MP Ssentongo: A committed servant leader goes to rest

By the time of her death, Robinah Nakasirye Ssentongo, 59, was pushing for reelection as Kyotera District Woman MP, a position she has occupied since September 2017.

She succumbed to Covid-19 on Friday morning at Mulago National Referral Hospital.

Ms Ssentongo becomes the third MP to succumb to Covid -19 in just a space of three months after her counterparts Rehema Watongola (Kamuli Municipality) and Faith Alupo (Pallisa Woman MP) died of the disease.

Ms Ssentongo was well-liked and respected by her electorates and those she worked with during her career as a social worker which spans three decades.
When news about Ssentongo’s death reached Kyotera on Friday morning, her supporters were seen gathering in small groups, contemplating the next course of action after the death of their flag bearer.

According to her chief campaigning manager, Mr Stephen Zziwa, the legislator developed a fever, flu and cough which prompted her to test for the novel coronavirus early this month and the results turned out to be positive.  

Ms Mary Babirye Kabanda, the Masaka District Woman MP and a close friend of the deceased, said following the death of Mr John Ssansa Mutagejja, a Democratic Party (DP) stalwart in Lwankoni Sub-county, Kyotera District last month ofCovid-19, Ms Ssentongo developed symptoms because they used to move together on the campaign trail.

“Mr Ssentongo, the deceased’s husband and more than 30 of her campaign agents are battling the deadly disease in different hospitals as others remain under isolation in their homes,” Ms Kabanda said. 

Ms Ssentongo has been the only Opposition MP in the entire Kyotera District.
Before Kyotera became a district, Ms Ssentongo first contested for the Rakai District Woman MP seat as an Independent candidate in 2016 but lost to the then NRM flag bearer Juliet Ssuubi Kinyamatama.

In early 2017, she decided to challenge Kinyamatama’s election at Masaka High Court, but as she waited for the ruling, Kyotera became operational as a district on July 1, 2017 after being carved out of Rakai District.

She later contested for the same post in the newly created district of Kyotera on the Democratic Party ticket in 2017 after being persuaded by Ms Kabanda and won.

She defeated Ms Rachael Nakitende, the then National Resistance Movement (NRM) party flag bearer.
Despite belonging to DP, Ssentongo would sometimes give government credit where it is due, a rare gesture among many Opposition politicians.

In the three years she was in Parliament, “Mama Kyotera” as she was fondly called by her supporters in the district, was vocal on issues affecting her area and had also raised Kyotera’s flag high.

During the 56th Independence anniversary celebrations in Kyotera District on October 9, 2018, she openly told President Museveni to honor his pledge of a ferry to ease transport between Kasensero landing site and Nangoma Island.

She also told him that the NRM government had marginalised people in rural areas and many could no longer support their families. 

Ssentongo further reminded the president that victims of the September 2016 earthquake in the area had not received building materials to reconstruct their damaged houses as he had earlier promised.

However, by the time of her death, the government was yet to address all these issues.
Besides politics, Ssentongo was vocal on issues about Buganda Kingdom and the Catholic Church. 

Mr Fred Mukasa Mbidde, the DP vice president, eulogised her as a dependable leader who always spoke her mind.
“She was also God-fearing, consistent and principled, and would sometimes make decisions during times of emergency and we will greatly miss her,” he said. 

By Saturday morning family members were yet to decide when the deceased will be laid to rest.

“We are waiting for her family to sit and decide which place the burial will take place. There is Lwankoni in Kyotera, Bukomansimbi or her ancestral grounds in Kalangala islands,” Mr Mbidde explains.
She is survived by five children.

ssentongo’s bio
Her Education
Ms Ssentongo went to Kimaanya Primary School in Masaka City  for her primary education  (1969-1976) before joining St Charles Lwanga Girls SS- Kalungu  where she completed her  Ordinary Level education in 1980.
She later pursued a  certificate  in midwifery at  St Francis Hospital -Nsambya School of Nursing, a diploma in Development Studies from Kimmage  Manor in Dublin, Ireland, diploma in Research Methods  from Social Behavioral Sciences Research Institute, diploma in  counseling and guidance (Mbarara University of Science and Technology) ,a degree in Human and Social Studies from the University of South Africa and a Master’s degree in Health Services Management at Uganda Martyrs University, Nkozi, which she attained in 2008.  

Ssentongo's bio 

Before joining Parliament, she served as a nurse counsellor at Kitovu Hospital (1983-1984) and Lubaga Hospital (1984-1988) and later a coordinator of Orphans and Family Support at Kitovu Mobile Aids Organisation (1990-1994).

In 1995, Ms Ssentongo returned to Kitovu Mobile from Lubaga Hospital to lead an  Aids Care Programme. In 2005, she was appointed chief executive officer of the same organisation.

Eulogies
Mr Haruna Kasolo, the Kyotera County MP said Ms Ssentongo was a strong pillar in the fight against HIV/Aids since the early 1980s. 

“Of course, we disagreed on several issues of national importance, but that’s politics where everyone wishes his/her side victory. We could at times meet at Parliament and chat since we all represent the same people,” Mr Kasolo said. 

Mr Patrick Kintu Kisekulo, the Kyotera District LC5 chairperson, said: “We have lost a giant in Kyotera politics who stood by her word and loved helping the needy. There is no doubt many youth and elderly gained both direct and indirectly from her contribution while still at Kitovu Mobile and also as an MP.” 

Dr Tom Balojja, the Kyotera District DP chairperson, said: “Robinah has really been a kind woman, of great integrity, extremely hardworking and someone who would help anyone.”

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