KAMPALA – Former Kampala Mayor Al hajji Nasser Ntege Ssebagala was on Sunday 4, 2020 laid to rest at his ancestral home in Kisaasi in a sendoff that was attended by a mammoth of people.
His sendoff attracted dignitaries from the Ugandan government, Buganda, business community and religious leaders from the different affiliations, politicians among others.
While speaking to mourners National Unity Platform (NUP) principal Robert Kyagulanyi Sentamu noted that the deceased laid a firm ground for them in the ghetto to widen their thinking
Kyagulanyi revealed that Ssebaggala who emerged from Nakasero Market and took up the highest office in Kampala was an inspiration to them (Ghetto people) that they could actually do more than they could imagine.
He explained that although he might not have been biologically born by the late Al Hajji Nasser Ntege, everyone in his (Kyagulanyi) age bracket was a son to the late former Kampala mayor in one way or the other.
“Hajji Nasser took me up when I least deserved it. His coming on the political scene in 1998 opened my eyes. He dismantled the status quo and inspired a lot of the ghetto people and that is why I am able to stand before you today,” Kyagulanyi said.
Urging the mourner to copy the deeds of Ssebaggala, the Kyadondo East legislator said that trails Al hajji Ssebagala’s legacy will forever live on because he left behind a lot of upcoming ‘Ssebagalas’
“Hajj died a supporter of the struggle. He was actually the founder of People Power because he was the very first mayor to be elected by the people, what more proves people power than this. Even at his sick bed, he wanted to comeback and rectify what he felt was going wrong in Kampala as he was awaiting nomination for the mayoral seat,” he said.
The funeral, however, quickly turned into a political pulpit as politicians took advantage of the send-off ceremony to the campaign.
On his side, Kyagulanyi said that ladies are part of the ‘generational movement’ and should not be left behind in the struggle to capture state power ahead of the 2021 general elections. He said that the Kampala Lord Mayoral seat is not earmarked for only men.
“Uganda is like a house and Kampala is the sitting room. I urge you women in Kampala to decide whether the sitting room in a house is best managed by a man or woman if you want it cleaned up,” he said adding that Kampala is not for only men as it is a city for everyone and just like a bird that cannot fly on one wing, they cannot win with only men.
Kyagulanyi’s remarks come at a time when the National Unity Platform handed its ticket for the 2021 Kampala Lord Mayoral race to Nabilah Naggayi Ssempala.
Nabilah will tussle it out with FDC new comer and incumbent Erias Lukwago, NRM’s Dan Kazibwe alias Ragga Dee and independent Joseph Mayanja alias Jose Chameleone.
