Video: Sebaggala: ‘A Man for All Seasons’

To describe former Mayor of Kampala Nasser Ntege Sebaggala, as ‘A Man for All Seasons’, does not in any way equate him to Sir Thomas More, the English lawyer, social philosopher, author and statesman.
Thomas More, who Robert Bolt features as a lead character in his 1960s play ‘A Man for All Seasons’ was tried, and found guilty of treason during the reign of King, Henry VIII.

He was consequently beheaded on July 6, 1535 but More is best remembered for his unwavering faith in what he believed in. He stuck to his conscience.

Looking at Sebaggala’s life, one can easily call him a man of all seasons because of the challenges he has sailed through right from the early 1970s when he shot to stardom but it would be very wrong to contextualise his career in Mr More’s perspective. The two individuals are mutually exclusive.

While More lost his life for standing for what he believed in, Sebaggala has flip-flopped on a number of issues throughout his political career.

So, who is Sebaggala?
By his own account and that of those close to him, Sebaggala’s story is one of a journey from rags to riches. Born in Kampala on November 15, 1947, Sebaggala, by all counts fits the description of a “city born”. When he was only seven years old, Sebaggala started working in Nakasero Market with his family. It was here that he got training which he says he could never get from school.

The expulsion of Asians by Idi Amin in 1972, was a blessing for the already skilled Sebaggala, who acquired an electronics and clothes store on Kampala Road. He did not squander his newly acquired wealth like many of his contemporaries who were inept at handling the manna from heaven the Life President (Amin) at the time had delivered.

Lifestyle
The 67-year-old boasts that he became a millionaire when he was only 20 years old and by his own account driving the best car in East Africa at the age of 21. His lifestyle got him in trouble in the 1970s but he would survive and live to tell his story.

His relationship with fashion designer, Sylvia Owori, went as far as ending in the courts of law with Sebaggala dragging the former Miss Uganda pageant boss to the Family Court at Nakawa, accusing her of denying him access to their son. Court granted Sebaggala custody of the child and also ordered the child’s names changed to those Sebaggala wished.

He has also been linked to a string of other controversies including having a relationship with musician Desire Luzinda but he maintains he had no romantic feelings for the singer who he describes as a friend, a reason he gets invited to functions where she performs.

Sebaggala says he has 18 children and his first born child, who lives in the US, is aged 45. In an interview early this year he bragged that his wife of 36 years could not divorce him despite his infidelities because of his Muslim background.

Many have ridiculed his English language deficiencies but Sebaggala never shies away from an opportunity. He is currently in court after suing telecom company MTN Uganda Limited, claiming it infringed on his copyright by using his speeches as ringtones without his authorisation.

You also have to give it to him, the man has a fashion sense. He loves the “puff” pocket on a masterfully worn suit. But even if he is dressed casually, he makes sure he stands out and this gives him a commanding presence and charismatic personality.

EMPTY KAVEERA

While campaigning for the mayoral office, Sebaggala promised that every one of the dwellers of the city of Kampala would always have a kaveera (polythene bag) of goodies to take home. But few and far between, had received the kaveera by the time he left the mayoral job.

He also promised, among others, to put traders in charge of markets in the city if he was voted into office and promised that his council would only take two thirds of the tax collected from the markets. The rest of the money would go back into the management and development of the city markets.

The darling of Kampala’s downtrodden faced the reality of his failed promises in 2009 when he was insulted and almost assaulted on his visit to Park Yard market that had been gutted by fire.

Perhaps, realising that he would not be re-elected given the changes in the governance of the city and the rising popularity of some of the candidates intending to contest for the seat, Sebaggala opted to stay away from the 2011 contest which Erias Lukwago eventually won to become Lord Mayor.

Earlier, he had contested for DP president and lost to Norbert Mao. Sebaggala had dished out huge sums of money to the delegates but the results were not in his favour, he got only 321 votes compared to Mao’s 708.

Ssebagala said he realised that there was something wrong in the party. He would later ditch DP and form his own party, the Liberal Democratic Party, ending his 33-year membership to Uganda’s oldest party.

UNWANTED ALLY

Ssebagala surprised some of his supporters when he appeared at Namboole stadium during the NRM’s delegates’ conference in 2010. President Museveni described him as an ally during his speech at the conference and went ahead to warn NRM members who had lost in the primaries not to think of standing as independents except for “allies” like Sebaggala.

To reward him, President Museveni appointed Sebaggala, who had moved with him across the country during the 2011 general elections, as minister without Portfolio.

But the parliamentary appointments committee unanimously rejected his appointment.
While the law gives the President an opportunity to appeal to the House to take a decision on the matter President Museveni did not.

Museveni instead appointed Sebaggala his adviser on general duties ending the dream of a confident man who had assured journalists that no one could block his appointment.

The alliance continued to crack with the public humiliation of the former mayor by a combined force of police and KCCA law enforcement officers who used force and broke into the former town clerk’s residence, located on Plot 1 Ssezibwa Road, which Sebaggala had turned into an office and residence of sorts for his personal gain.

His personal effects which included files, computers and other office items were carried to City Hall. KCCA executive director, Jennifer Semakula Musisi would later report that the operation commanded by the then Kampala Metropolitan police commander Grace Turyagumanawe was successful.

Sebaggala’s claims that he had his ally’s (President Museveni) blessings and has spent an accumulated Shs400 million fell on deaf ears.

POLITICAL CAREER

Sebaggala was the first Opposition leaning Mayor of Kampala city under President Museveni’s rule. This was after he defeated a Movement-leaning candidate Christopher Iga in 1998. Sebaggala rode on his ability to identify with the majority of the people in Kampala, the proletariat. Having lived through the same conditions like them, he simply spoke their language.

But just two months into his first term on June 13, 1998, Sebaggala was arrested in the US. He was pulled off a Sabena Airways flight enroute to Brussels and then to Entebbe. Six counts of fraud and two of making false declaration were brought against him by US authorities. After a lengthy trial, he was convicted and imprisoned for more than a year. At City Hall, John Ssebaana Kizito, another DP member was voted in as mayor.

After serving 11 months in jail, Ssebagala returned like a hero to Uganda and was welcomed by a crowd that would only be seen almost three years later with the return of Uganda’s Big Brother Africa contestant Gaetano Kagwa. Sebaggala immediately announced his intention to unseat President Yoweri Museveni in the 2001 general election. He picked nomination papers to run for president but was stopped for lack of the required minimum academic qualification.

Through the “Hajji alagidde tuwe Besigye obululu” slogan of 2001, Sebaggala turned king maker and appealed to the public to vote Dr Kizza Besigye who was aiming to unseat President Museveni. He also supported a host of other opposition candidates vying for different offices.

Some of the candidates he supported won but Dr Besigye did not go through. This, however, did not dampen Sebaggala’s unwavering quest to lead the country. He picked nomination papers in 2006 but withdrew from the race and instead ran for the Kampala mayoral seat.

He would take the day but not without controversy. Sebaggala claimed he was endorsed by the Democratic Party National Executive Committee, the highest decision-making body in the party but this was contested by Hassib Takuba Kabuye who was elected by party delegates in Kampala to run for the mayoral office. His main rival in the race, Peter Ssematimba, challenged the election as marred with massive election malpractices but Sebaggala was undeterred and he finished his five-year term

Video by NTV

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