How Ssebaggala changed Kampala politics

In the end, his share (Seya) on earth, some close confidants say, has been the change of the political style in the country, especially within Kampala.

Retiring home with akavera (polythene full of goodies for the family at home) manifesto for the Kampala Mayoral race, precipitated a powerful jargon, Seya, which he locally translated from the word share.

According to Nasser Ntege Ssebaggala's vision for Kampala, every city dweller was supposed to go back home with akavera as their share from their combined contribution to the city. 

The jargon Seya, which became his nickname, has since been permanently etched in his life. 

Even the grave epitaph, family members say, will have the name-tag Seya, a nickname that sparked off his political stardom within Kampala and beyond.

Explaining the import of the Seya nickname, the Kampala Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago, who drew several political lessons from Ssebaggala during the infant stages of his political career, said: "In the politics of Uganda, he coined the term Seya, meaning that everybody must have a share and that Kampala must be for all."

Indeed, Seya was in the driving seat of the affairs, mainly within Kampala politics, at the time. 

According to the executive director of Kampala, Dorothy Kisaka, Ssebaggala also used the Seya jargon as a rallying point for many city dwellers.

"Kampala remembers his memorable tenure at City Hall and the tremendous mobilisation skills of the masses using the Seya slogan," Kisaka said.

Giant of Kampala politics

Some of his close allies argue that Kampala, being the fulcrum of politics, Ssebaggala, used his popularity leverage to empower many youthful politicians to get their footing in the political arena.

Kenneth Paul Kakande, one of the politicians that Ssebaggala groomed, says that the man of all seasons selected him as one of his campaign managers for the Kampala mayoral race elections despite his tender age at the time.

"He was the first directly elected mayor of Kampala. I am one of the people he chose to lead his campaign in 1997. What was unique about him is the belief he had in ordinary people. He particularly emphasised that everybody within the city must have a share hence the name Seya," Kakande said. 

"His entry into Kampala politics also changed a lot of things. People, for example, stopped to look at politicians as elitists, but fellow hustlers. He used to work at Nakasero market, during his youthful days, and this experience, was a source of inspiration to many people who come from humble backgrounds," he added, noting that Ssebaggala also believed in young people, a trend that shaped Kampala politics.

Born in Kisasi, a Kampala suburb, Ssebagala, 72, was raised in a grass-thatched house but turned around his humble beginnings into a weighty businessman and a towering political actor.

His friend, the minister of works and transport, Gen. Katumba Wamala, described Ssebaggala as a man "with a heart for Kampala" who was not discouraged by prevailing circumstances to achieve his dream for Kampala.

A patron of hustlers, Ssebaggala shed off all his shortcomings to become the first directly elected mayor of Kampala. He was also the first to lose office as mayor because of a court conviction. This paved way for Ssebaana Kizito in 1999. 

While in the US he was arrested, charged with eight counts of fraud and sentenced to 15 months in jail.

However, upon return, thousands welcomed him at Entebbe International Airport as a hero, something that pushed his political ambitions through the roof.  Ssebaggala bounced back as mayor in 2006, making the Kampala mayor position a Democratic Party (DP) affair.

Commenting about the political footprint of his brother, the Kawempe North MP, Latif Sebagala, said: "He brought in a new breed of politics in Uganda, and indeed, we are going to miss him. He was a man of the people."

On the political campaign front, Kakande said, it is Ssebaggala, who changed the mode of campaigning, when he introduced the Bugisu traditional Kadondi dance beat, a trend that has shaped the campaign frenzy in subsequent elections around Kampala and beyond.

"The Gishu traditional drums brought in excitement and changed the mode of campaigns across the country. He had a lot of experience, and it is sad that he dint write a memoir," Kakande added, describing Ssebaggala as "the giant of Kampala politics".

At one time he commanded Opposition troops within Kampala. In fact, even though at one stage there was a bitter fall-out with some of the people he groomed and nurtured politically, his political legacy remains a large influence in the hearts of political actors such as former Makindye East MP, Michael Mabikke, Kenneth Paul Kakande, among others, especially those that honed their political skills under the Uganda Young Democrats (UYD).

One of the most unexpected fall-outs was that between Ssebaggala and his longtime confidant, Mabikke. In fact, these two publically quarrelled with Mabikke saying that Ssebaggala is a Tanzanian. Ssebaggala also returned fire, noting that despite his long-term friendship with Mabikke, he had never seen any of his relatives.

Speaking about the demise of his friend, Mabikke said, he was taken aback by the passing of Ssebaggala. 

"He was an astute politician who brought to the fore issues of the common people. He was inspirational, lifted many people and paved way for many present leaders. We will miss him, his tactics and wealth of political experience," Mabikke said.

The making of Besigye

Yet even when he fell-out with some colleagues along the way, during his political peak, his word was final when it came to Opposition politics.

Those who wanted to join politics, especially within Kampala, had to be in Ssebaggala's good books or at least appear to be on his political side.

Even when the former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) kingpin, Dr Kizza Besigye jumped the so-called queue within the rank and file for the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party, he had to seek the endorsement of Seya. 

And when Ssebaggala gave a political nod, his core Kampala supporters chorused across all corners of the city that: "Hajji akozze ki? Alagidde, nti tuwe Besigye obululu," 

That chorus was one of the many spices that shaped the 2001 general elections, loosely meant that Ssebaggala had ordered all his supporters to vote Besigye.

Such was the man, who punctuated his political life, with a certain wave of charisma and down-to-earth political style, which excited the country.

Commenting about the man, who many believed, contributed to his popularity wave, Besigye said: "Ssebaggala was a good-natured man, who wished others well. He was a witty, creative, courageous and charismatic leader. A leading and articulate voice of marginalised young people. Though he stumbled in later years, he has left a big mark on Uganda's liberation struggle."

Other political actors such as the Democratic Party (DP) president, Norbert Mao, who he fiercely competed with for the party president position, have credited Ssebaggala's political stardom despite many challenges and constraints.

Mao credited Seya for not only his business acumen, which saw a boy birthed from a grass-thatched house in Kisasi, a city suburb, build a towering business empire, but also for his contribution in energising the Democratic Party at a time when parties were virtually banned.

Mao added that Ssebaggala was a formidable DP strongman, who inspired, groomed and supported many young Turks to embrace politics.

"Hajji Ssebaggala's brand of politics endeared him to those Frantz Fanon referred to as "the wretched of the earth." He mobilised the urban poor with a clear message of hope and inspired them to aspire to and fight for a better life. He was a true champion of the downtrodden commonly known as "omuntu wa wansi" or (the ordinary person)," Mao said.

At one time as Ssebaggala's Opposition political candle started to burn out, he ‘crossed' to NRM and publically campaigned for President Yoweri Museveni. Commenting about his entrance into the NRM fold, Museveni described him as "a big fish" for the ruling party to have forked out of opposition pool.

Of course, like a moving wave, Ssebaggala's relationship with NRM, never lasted for long. He quietly fizzled out until recently when he announced a comeback.

One of such political comebacks, was the recent expression of interest to contest for the Kampala Lord Mayor position under Robert Kyagulanyi's party, National Unity Platform (NUP).

However, according to political watchers, Ssebaggala had not only lost his political steam but also the core support that he commanded when his political career was at the peak two and half decades ago.

"It is very sad that he has gone at this time when we need so much guidance from such elders," Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine said.

Yet as his body is lowered into the grave on October 4, the Seya-impact, observers say, will not be interred.