At around 9.00 PM on January 15, when results from Kira Municipality began coming in on election night, many residents struggled to believe what they were hearing.
At Comboni Missionaries Grounds in Kyaliwajjala, where the counting and tallying had been concluded, National Unity Platform’s George Musisi had beaten the incumbent Ssemujju Ibrahim Nganda, with a margin of more than 400 votes. In Kirinya and Kasokoso, considered to be his strongholds, Ssemujju could barely keep up.
Yet the most clear sign that the outspoken MP had lost came from a polling station, barely 50 metres from his gate in Bukasa. Here, Ssemujju lost to Musisi, and the final nail was hammered into the coffin.
For a constituency that had known Ssemujju as its MP for 10 years (he first represented Kyadondo East in 2011), the results felt shocking. For others, it felt like a result that had been slowly taking shape.
Ssemujju’s loss has ignited debate in Kira Municipality and beyond about what voters now expect from their MPs.
For years, he has been celebrated as one of the most active legislators on the floor of Parliament. Just last year, he was named by the Daily Monitor as the best performing MP in the 11th Parliament on the basis of his submissions, which have been fearless.
Yet in Kira, many voters say they rarely saw him. His presence, as they say, was never felt.
Therefore, as Ssemujju’s national profile grew, some voters say his local presence diminished. He often argued that the work of an MP was primarily legislative, not to attend burials, a remark that some say smacked of arrogance in a society where social functions are highly valued.
Peter Ssekandi, a 34-year-old boda boda rider in Bulindo, said Ssemujju’s absence was a regular topic of conversation.
“We respected him for speaking boldly in Parliament. Leadership is also about presence. When someone dies or when people gather, they expect their MP to be there. If he is never around, people feel abandoned,” Ssekandi said.
Secondly, the way Ssemujju ran his 2026 campaign, some say, confirmed that he had underestimated his opponents. His competitors criss-crossed the constituency daily, while Ssemujju largely campaigned only on Sundays. His camp said the MP was occupied by parliamentary duties on weekdays.
Ssemujju to campaign only on Sundays
But many voters interpreted this as complacency and underestimation of competitors who were on the ground every day.
Sarah Nanyonga, a 29-year-old retail shop owner in Kireka, said she had voted for Ssemujju in previous elections but changed her mind this time.
“He is very smart and brave, but he never followed up on our problems. It felt like he was not working with us,” she said.
Musisi, the MP-elect man took a very different approach. Musisi ran a quiet, almost clandestine campaign that avoided noisy rallies and heavy publicity. In fact, at some point, some people felt he had abandoned the race.
What they did not know is that he focused on door-to-door mobilisation, small meetings, and personal engagement with local leaders. His strength became clear on polling day.
James Lwanga, a 41-year-old teacher at St Kizito Secondary School in Namugongo, described Musisi’s strategy as simple but effective.
“He was not loud, but he was consistent. He moved quietly, meeting people in their homes,” Lwanga said.
Female voters in Kira also pointed to Musisi’s humility and accessibility. Mariam Nakato, a 38-year-old mother of three in Bweyogerere, said Musisi was not arrogant.
In 2016, when Ssemujju first contested in the newly created Municipality, he won with more than 70%. He defeated NRM’s Juliet Najjuma with a margin of 30,000 votes. In 2021, when NUP emerged as a strong political force, Ssemujju survived the “umbrella” wave defeating NUP’s Ji, y Lukwago with a margin of 28, 000 votes.
It had been widely anticipated that he would defend his seat easily in 2026, but the script changed as Musisi won with a margin of more than 7,000 votes.
Some analysts say the Kira result reflects changing voter attitudes in urban constituencies. Many voters now want MPs who balance national advocacy with constant local engagement.
Being visible on television and in Parliament is no longer enough. As one elderly voter put it, an MP is like a water tap.
“If the pipe is far from your home, you will still feel thirsty even if there is water.”
Ssemujju’s political rise was itself rooted in courage and consistency. He transitioned from journalism into politics with a reputation for tough questioning and independent thinking. Once in Parliament, he quickly mastered procedure and debate, becoming a key opposition voice.
Younger MPs often cited him as an example of how to challenge the executive using the rules of the House. His supporters argue that losing his seat does not erase that record. They say Parliament will miss a legislator who understood both the law and the power of words.
David Kato, a 22-year-old university student in Kapeera Zone, Kyaliwajjala, says he voted for Ssemujju on January 15 and was disappointed with the outcome.
“We need people like him in Parliament. He speaks for those without a voice. But maybe he forgot that even the best dancer leaves the floor,” Kato told Bbeg Media.
Some voters believe that after 15 years in Parliament, fatigue set in, and the constituency wanted a fresh face. Ssemujju’s fall is being likened to that of a skilled trader who focused on distant markets and forgot the customers at his stall.
In the coming days and months, Ssemujju faces a period of reflection. His allies hope he will re-emerge, perhaps at the national level as a presidential candidate for the People’s Front for Freedom in 2031.
Yet for now, the lesson for Ssemujju after his defeat is simple. Even the loudest and most articulate legislator must regularly return home and check on his people. Otherwise, they will be replaced by a quieter one that people believe will listen more to their concerns.
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