A burial ceremony turned into a political battleground yesterday when Kimanya Kabonera MP Abed Bwanika openly criticized National Unity Platform president Robert Kyagulanyi, asserting that Kyagulanyi's red overalls "no longer have a place in Masaka."
Dr. Bwanika's remarks, made at the funeral of the late Pascal Ssekasamba in Manja Village, Lwengo District, highlighted growing internal discord within the NUP. Accusing Kyagulanyi of failing to control his supporters, Dr. Bwanika cited instances of verbal abuse directed at prominent figures such as Buganda Kingdom Prime Minister Charles Peter Mayiga and Nyendo Mukungwe MP Mathias Mpuuga.
The funeral, initially a somber occasion, quickly escalated into a heated exchange, with NUP supporters labeling Dr. Bwanika a "snake" and questioning his loyalty. In response, Dr. Bwanika demanded mutual respect and condemned the abuse aimed at him and other leaders.
"This is not the struggle we envisioned, Mr. Kyagulanyi. Those youth who are abusing us are your followers. Anyone who wants to remove me from here, go ahead. Kyagulanyi, stop undermining our leaders," Dr. Bwanika stated.
Dr. Bwanika has shown steadfast loyalty to Mathias Mpuuga, the former Leader of the Opposition, who faced suspension in April from his role as NUP deputy president for the Buganda region. The suspension followed revelations that Mpuuga had received a controversial allowance from the Parliamentary Commission, including a Shs500 million "service award."
The NUP condemned the payment as corruption and demanded Mpuuga's resignation from the Parliamentary Commission. Despite the backlash, Mpuuga stood firm, supported by Speaker Anita Among and other parliamentary allies, including Dr. Bwanika. This dispute has driven a significant wedge between Mpuuga and Kyagulanyi, with the events in Lwengo suggesting that reconciliation is unlikely in the near future.
Amid the mourners' heckling, Dr. Bwanika also accused NUP deputy spokesperson Waisswa Mufumbira of immorality, which led to the microphone being taken from him.
When Kyagulanyi took the microphone, he sought to defuse the tension, first apologizing to the mourners for Dr. Bwanika's remarks.
"Bwanika, I am not sure if you love Mpuuga more than I do; it was I who appointed him as my vice president, Leader of the Opposition, and Commissioner of Parliament," Kyagulanyi said. "We can disagree, but we must look at the bigger picture. People have hope in us, and the youth are watching our actions closely."
Kyagulanyi asserted that he harbors no ill will toward Mpuuga and emphasized that his primary adversary is President Museveni.
"We are striving for a better Uganda. Being loved by the people is not my problem. I have never mobilized anyone to hate Mpuuga," he added. "Even though I disagree with Mpuuga, we must remain united by our shared religion and tribe."
He cautioned against internal conflicts within the opposition, stressing that such disputes only benefit President Museveni.
"Whenever you pray, please pray for me. I find myself in a situation where I fight the enemy with one hand while the other hand is occupied with internal battles. It is very sad," Kyagulanyi remarked.
The burial, which began with a mass led by Kyanukuzi Parish priest Rev. Fr. Henry Kasule, saw the priest urging political leaders to remain steadfast in their parties and resist financial temptations from the ruling NRM government.
Mathias Mpuuga did not address the gathering but appeared to acknowledge Dr. Bwanika's statements. The widow, Mrs. Evelyne Nakku Ssekasamba, expressed gratitude for her late husband's life and implored their children to maintain their faith in God.
Pascal Ssekasamba, born in 1970, passed away at the age of 54, leaving behind a legacy intertwined with the current political turbulence within the NUP.
