Parliament shaken by deaths of Ssegirinya, Baba Diri

A sombre mood on Thursday engulfed the Ugandan Parliament as legislators came to terms with the loss of a colleague, Muhammad Ssegirinya and an old colleague Margaret Baba Diri.

Ssegirinya, the Kawempe North legislator, passed away on Thursday, January 9, at Lubaga Hospital, after being in critical condition. The medical team had initially hoped his condition would stabilise.

Meanwhile, Baba Diri's passing was announced during a plenary session. The veteran legislator had served in Parliament since 1996, representing Koboko Women and Persons Living with Disabilities (PWDs). Koboko County Member of Parliament, Mr James Baba Boliba, broke the news, saying, "I regret to inform you that our old colleague, the veteran politician, Honorable Margaret Baba Diri, passed on…. on the way to hospital."

The announcement sent shockwaves through the Parliament, with many legislators struggling to come to terms with the loss of two colleagues in such a short span.

Speaker of Parliament, Ms Anita Among, announced that the House would pay tribute to Ssegirinya on Friday, January 10.

"Those Members who are going away, I am just letting you know that we have a special sitting, tomorrow, at 10am. So, even as you go, remember to be here for a special sitting as we pay tribute to Honorable Muhammad," she said.

Ssegirinya's health has been a concern since his election in 2021, and he has been in and out of the country receiving treatment. His passing, along with Baba Diri's, has left many legislators in a state of shock and grief.

Napak Woman Member of Parliament, Ms Faith Loru Nakut, acknowledged the difficulty of losing two colleagues in such a short span.

"It's a hard thing to lose two colleagues in a matter of minutes. It's a big loss for us as a Parliament and as a country," she said.

Baba Diri was a veteran legislator who had served in Parliament for over two decades. She was known for her advocacy work on behalf of PWDs and was a respected figure in the Parliament. Her passing has been met with an outpouring of tributes from legislators and other stakeholders.

Ssegirinya, on the other hand, was a young and promising legislator who had been elected to Parliament in 2021. Despite his short time in office, he had already made a name for himself as a vocal advocate for the rights of his constituents. 

The burial arrangements for Muhammad Segirinya 

According to the National Unity Platform (NUP) president, Mr Robert Kyagulanyi, Segirinya will be laid to rest on Sunday at his ancestral home in Masaka District.

A vigil will be held Thursday at 4:00PM at the MUP offices in Kavule to honour Segirinya, a member of their party. 

The body will first be taken to Parliament on Friday morning at 9:00AM, before proceeding to Mbogo Mosque in Kawempe for prayers. 

Afterwards, it will be transported to his home in Kasangati before making the journey to Masaka for burial on Sunday.

Originally, the burial was scheduled for Saturday, but due to the difficulty in the arrival of relatives from abroad on that day, the date has been shifted. 

Although Islamic tradition requires immediate burial, Segirinya's family has been granted an exception. 

His body remains at the Rubaga Hospital mortuary. (By Damali Mukhaye)