By Our Reporter.
Former Presidential candidate and pro-democracy icon and peace maker, Paul Kawanga Ssemogerere passed on November 18, 2022 aged 90. Ssemogerere who had been unwell for a long time died at his home in Rubaga Division in Kampala, according to his family. He was aged 90.The former Democratic Party (DP) President-General’s young brother, John Baptist Kawanga said that Ssemogerere’s health deteriorated November 17, 2022 before his doctor was called to check on him and thsat was the last time he saw alive.”He was virtualy the head of our family and we all grew up in his hands” said John Baptist Kawanga, young brother to the former Foreign MinisterKampala Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago said he was devastated by Ssemogerere’s demise and described him as a true statesman who has been working hard to unite forces of change in Uganda.. It’s really sad that he has not lived to see the moment he worked so hard for. He’s been a true statesman and a godfather to many of us. ,” Mr Lukwago said at Ssemogerere’s home this month.Dr Kizza Besigye once referred to Mr Ssemogerere as Uganda’s “most senior political activist.” He served as the Democratic Party of Uganda’s leader for 25 years and was a significant figure in Ugandan politics until his retirement in 2005.On February 11, he celebrated his 90th birthday. Ssemogerere was born on February 11, 1932, in the present-day Kalangala District. I send heartfelt condolences to the family of the Hon Paul Kawanga Ssemogerere, the Democratic Party fraternity and the Country at large upon the loss of a statesman and distinguished leader who dedicated his life to the service of Uganda.The Speaker of Ugandan Parliament joined morners in paying tribute to Dr Paul Kawanga Ssemogerer. “We have learned about the untimely death of Dr. Paul Kawanga Ssemogerere. We are alive to the fact that we stand on the shoulders of freedom fighters like him who came before us in resisting this dictatorship. We send our deepest condolences to his family for such a tragic loss”, She said.I send heartfelt condolences to the family of the Hon Paul Kawanga Ssemogerere, the Democratic Party fraternity and the Country at large upon the loss of a statesman and distinguished leader who dedicated his life to the service of Uganda.Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine, Leader of the National Unity Platform.Paul Kawanga Ssemogerere contested for the 1980 Uganda Presidency under the Democratic party and finished sencond with 50 seats behind Apollo Milton Obote’s Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC) that formed government with 75 seats.Dr Ssemogerere became Leader of Opposition and played a significant role in taming and countering the UPC government. In 1996 Paul Ssemogerere contested for the Presidency under the multi party dispensation and again finished second this time behind Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of the National Resistance Movement (NRM).Ssemogerere’s exceptional service to Uganda and the Buganda Kingdom was recently honored by Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi with a peace award. During the turbulent years when the National Resistance Army (NRA) waged a five – year protracted bush war against President bApollo Milton Obote, Dr Ssemogerere opted for diplomacy and taking the war in parliament. All requests and demands that the Democratic Party joins the NRA rebels in Luwero jungles received negative response from Dr Semogerere who insisted he was a peace maker who believed in using the “ballot” as opposed to using the “bullet” in changing governments.The youth wing of the Democratic party , the Uganda Young Democrats tried to resist the NRM administration in the early 1990 with demonstrations and rallies especially around Kampala City Square.Dr Ssemogerere was a Politician, democrat, peace – maker and diplomat who believed in constitutionalism and the rule of law ■
