PAUL KAWANGA SSEMOGERERE (1932 - 2022) 🕯️

Paul Kawanga Ssemogerere was raised by his uncle, Lumigiiro Kawanga, in Nkumba, Wakiso district because his father died when he (Ssemogerere) was a toddler.

Born on February 11, 1932 to Yozefu and Anna Maria Kapeere of Masaka, Ssemogerere went to Kisubi Primary School, then St. Henry’s College, Kitovu for his O-Level and St. Mary’s College, Kisubi for A'Level, where he was head prefect.

He then pursued a diploma in education at Makerere University.

Later, while in exile in the 1970s, Ssemogerere attained his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in politics and government at Allegheny College, Meadville in the US state of Pennsylvania. He also enrolled for a PhD degree in public administration at Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York.

He was married to Germina Namatovu with whom they had four children.

Ssemogerere, who died Friday (November 18) at the age of 90, taught at a number of schools, including St. Leo’s College, Kyegobe, before he joined politics.

He joined the Democratic Party while at Makerere University College, doing his quick apprenticeship under the likes of Benedicto Kiwanuka and Basil Bataringaya, and then became the party’s first publicity secretary. 

In 1961, he entered national politics at the age of 29 years, getting elected to represent Mengo North constituency in Uganda’s first National Parliament, the Legislative Council (LegCo).

LegCo operated shortly before Uganda's gained independence from 1961 to 1962.

Benedicto Kiwanuka appointed Ssemogerere as his private secretary when he (Benedicto) became chief minister courtesy of DP having most seats in Parliament.

In 1962 post-independence elections, Ssemogerere lost his seat when the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC)-Kabaka Yekka alliance defeated the DP in Buganda, but he remained a DP activist. 

In 1969, he was one of the DP leaders incarcerated without trial together with Kiwanuka, Alex Latim and UPC’s Grace Ibingira when the Obote I government banned political party activities. They remained in prison until Idi Amin took over power in 1971.

In his undated photo, Paul Kawanga Semwogerere (L) chats with President Milton Obote (R) at a reception at State House in Entebbe

In 1971, Ssemogerere went into exile in the US after his release and became defacto DP leader when Benedicto Kiwanuka was killed by state security operatives. While in the US, he continued pursuing postgraduate studies. 

Seven years later, in his capacity as DP leader, Ssemogerere attended the 1978 Moshi Conference that plotted to oust Amin. 

In 1980, he was elected the party’s president general and candidate during the 1980 presidential elections.

Five years later, Ssemogerere joined Cabinet with several DP leaders when Gen. Tito Okello seized power. He then headed the Tito government team for the botched Nairobi peace talks with the National Resistance Army (NRA). 

In 1986, Ssemogerere accepted to work with the NRA/ NRM although he had been opposed to their military struggle.

On June 3, 1993: In front row, 2nd Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Foreign Affairs Paul Ssemogerere & his wife Jemima, Prof. Semakula Kiwanuka of Makerere University Regina, behind them is Minister of Energy & Environmenntal Protection Henry Kajura & Mprigi Women NRC representative, Teddy Kaggwa Nsubuga (next to Kajura) during the Martyrs Day celebrations

He occupied the influential ministerial portfolios of internal affairs, before he was moved to foreign affairs. He was also one of Uganda’s delegates to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) between 1991 and 1995 and chairman of OAU Council of Ministers 1993 to 1994. 

In 1996, the 64-year-old politician quit government after failing to reach an agreement with President Yoweri Museveni on resumption of multi-party politics shortly before the 1996 presidential elections. 

He was fronted by the inter-party committee, an amalgam of all parties opposed to the Movement, to challenge Museveni, during which he polled a paltry 22.3% of the total votes cast against Museveni’s 75.5%.

Ssemogerere retired from politics in 2005 at the age of 73.

Deeds (among others)

Ssemogerere was part of the 30-man supreme governing body of the Uganda National Liberation Front.

In 1998, he launched a successful challenge to the Movement system at the Constitutional Court and finally triumphed with the 2001 verdict that led to the restoration of multi-partyism in Uganda.

He was the longest-serving president of DP, having held the post for 25 years, from 1980 to 2005.

He participated in the writing of all Uganda’s post-independence constitutions - the 1962, 1967 and 1995 documents.

Ssemogerere is lauded for having vehemently opposed militarism as a solution to national leadership.

It is said he even wanted a peaceful solution to Amin’s problem in the late 1970s. This was also the main reason he did not join the NRA in the bush when DP was reportedly robbed of the 1980 election. Instead, he convinced DP to join Parliament as the official opposition.

On Feb 10, 1994, the 2nd Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Paul Kawanga Ssemogerere (R) chats with the new French Ambassador to Uganda, Desquete, who visited the minister's office. (Credit: New Vision archives/Bidong Christopher)

SSEMOGERERE'S POLITICAL TIMELINE:

• 1961-1962 Parliamentary Secretary to Chief Minister Benedicto Kiwanuka
• 1963-1969 Publicity Secretary Democratic Party
• 1979-1981 Member National Consultative Council
• 1981-1985 Leader of the Official Opposition
• 1984-1994 Vice President Christian Democratic International
• 1985-1988 Minister of Internal Affairs
• 1988-1990 Chair OAU Council of Ministers
• 1988-1994 Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and Regional Affairs
• 1994-1995 Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Service
• 1999 Brought the first of 5 landmark cases that outlawed the Movement System and set stage for return of Political Parties to Uganda
• 2005 Retired as DP President to private business
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PICTURED 📸

On January 23, 1996, presidential aspirant Dr. Paul Kawanga Ssemogerere (L) is welcomed by his presidential campaign team chairperson, Maria Mutagamba (R) at the International Conference Centre in Kampala, before Ssemogerere launched his campaign manifesto. In the centre is the secretary general of Uganda People's Congress (UPC) Cecilia Ogwal and behind her, Sam Ssemaala, a member of the campaign team in Buganda region. (Credit: New Vision archives/Cranimer Mugerwa)

On September 15, 1999, Second Deputy Prime Minister Paul Kawanga Semogerere (R) arrives at Parliamentary building to appear before the NRC Secretoral Committee on Foreign Affairs, accompained by the ministry's permanent secretary, Chris Kisagazi. (Credit: New Vision archives/Hassan Sserwadda)

On October 7, 2020, Dr Paul Kawanga Ssemogerere and wife Germina Namatovu Ssemogerere at the celebration to mark his Peace  award from the Kabaka of Buganda, dedicated to the process of rescuing, safeguarding and strengthening democracy and constitutionalism in Uganda at a launch for a symposium to spearhead a united opposition front for regime change at Hotel Africana, Kampala. (Credit: New vision archives/Richard Sanya)