Govt preaches peace at Kawanga Ssemogerere burial

The long-serving Democratic Party president, Dr Paul Kawanga Ssemogerere, was accorded a 17-gun salute by the government as he was being laid to rest Monday afternoon at his home in Nattale-Nkumba.

It should be noted that during mass requiem held at Rubaga Cathedral Church, the widow, Prof. Germina Namatovu Ssemogerere and the family of the late, pleaded that the late be disassociated from gun salutes.

However, while delivering the president’s speech, Robbinah Nabbanja, the Prime Minister of Uganda, quoted the constitution which gives a right to gun salutes.

“As of yesterday during the church prayers, we had only talked about 3 gun salutes. But as one grows in rank the more respect they receive. For someone who has died at the level of Prime Minister, the constitution directs us to accord him 17 gun salutes,” she said.

Nabbanja also emphasized that the country is peaceful, despite allegations by members from the opposition parties during their speeches at the burial of Dr Ssemogerere that there is bloodshed.

“The fact that you are gathered and have got freedom of speech at the funeral is an indication of peace. You can speak all you want and be watched on TV but that’s the freedom we, as NRM, brought,” she emphasized.

Referring to the president’s speech, Nabbanja noted that the late was a great leader since his old days as the president of the Democratic Party. Dr Ssemogerere was the leader of the Democratic Party for 25 years.

She said it was so unfortunate the family was uncomfortable with the gun salutes; however, it had to be done as per the constitution.

The National Unity Platform president, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, was the first opposition party leader to get an opportunity to speak about the deceased since, in the family lineage, Dr Ssemogerere was his grandfather.

Kyagulanyi, citing the kidnaps of his party members, alleged the country is not peaceful.

“We even had to hold a convention on human rights in Nairobi because we knew there’s no peace here in Uganda and it would be breached,” he said.

The Katikiro of Buganda, Charles Peter Mayiga, said Dr Ssemogerere played a great role in bringing back chiefdoms in the country and spearheaded the coronation of the Kabaka.

He said other leaders in the country should learn a lot from him, especially when it comes to being faithful and running mature politics.

Michael Lulume Bayiga, the chief organizer of the sendoff, said the Uganda democrats choose the late Dr Ssemogerere as a leader with trust and as a mentor.

At the time of his death he was still fighting to see that the opposition gets a common front.