Moses Nsereko: The comic Kawempe North parliamentary candidate

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Many people believe that Moses Nsereko, one of the 10 candidates vying for the Kawempe North by-election parliamentary seat, is a man of humour, who infused drama and comedy into the campaigns. The campaigns have also, on the dark side, been characterised by violence and beating of candidates and supporters by the security personnel.

On day one of his nomination for the byelection to replace famous comic Member of Parliament, Muhammad Ssegirinya, who passed on recently, Nsereko was turned away for lack of sufficient signatures.

However, on the second day, he arrived in time, with a box of papers, perplexing the Electoral Commission officers that received him. However, this time he met all the requirements and was finally nominated as an independent candidate. Then he started his entertainment.   

Nsereko is a farmer and businessman. He owns a money-lending venture and runs two primary schools. For his campaigns, he chose to act as a comedic monologue, many times appearing to be light in nature but on the other side, confusing for those who do not take his conduct lightly. During a live show on Bukedde TV on March 3, 2025, which attracted all the 10 candidates, Nsereko arrived late, after the show had started.

It is said he wasted a lot of time outside the studios making comedy. He came with his food and sat in a corridor, served himself. He later surfaced. He carried nine locally made savings boxes, several tattered papers, a baby plastic chair and posters, among others. During the live show, Nsereko stunned the Bukedde team when he continued receiving phone calls.

Nsereko's boxes. (Credit: Eddie Ssejjoba)

(Credit: Eddie Ssejjoba)

Again, during the live show, he kept signalling to someone who appeared to be his aide, until a new jacket was delivered to him. He kept it beside him but midway through the show, he stood up and removed one jacket and put on another. He had earlier explained that one of the jackets belongs to his late father and that it allegedly carries blessings for his campaigns.  

(Credit: Eddie Ssejjoba)

Nsereko drops his jacket and puts on another. (Credit: Eddie Ssejjoba)

When he was given a chance to speak, Nsereko chose to kneel and faced down to the microphone, asking the voters to consider him only, saying he was a NUP supporter who had been kicked out during the debate to choose a candidate, but insisted that he indeed represented the supporters and the right candidate, counsel Erias Luyimbaazi Nalukoola, represented the interests of the party. 

Not done, he stood up and moved around, distributing the money-saving boxes to each candidate. One candidate, Sadat Mukibi aka Kalifah Aganaga of the Forum for Democratic Change party, was not amused. He instead kicked the box placed before him, saying it contained charm (juju).

Nsereko delivering his boxes. (Credit: Eddie Ssejjoba)

Nsereko responding to a candidate who asked why he was giving out boxes. (Credit: Eddie Ssejjoba)

At the end of the show, Mukiibi asked show hosts: Sserugga Matovu and Rose Kigongo to explain why Nsereko was distributing the boxes and later withdrawing them. Nsereko instead shot up and said the boxes were meant to encourage the candidates to learn to save money. He promised that when he wins the by-election, he will first report to the party president, Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine and pay his allegiance.

The other candidates who attended the Bukedde TV debate were Hanifa Karadi Murerwa (independent), Muhammed Luwemba Luswa (independent), Elias Luyimbazi Nalukoola (National Unity Platform), Ismail Musiitwa (People’s Progressive Party), Muhamood Mutazindwa (independent), Henry Mubiru Kasacca (Democratic Party), and Faridah Nambi Kigongo of the National Resistance Movement party.