Muhammad Ssegirinya, the Member of Parliament for Kawempe North, has candidly revealed that he sometimes regrets his decision to join Parliament due to the challenges he has faced.
The Opposition legislator recently shared his tribulations following his return from Amsterdam Universitair Medische Centra Hospital in The Netherlands, where he has been receiving medical treatment since August 10.
Ssegirinya expressed his inner turmoil, stating, “I have never found inner peace ever since I was elected MP, and sometimes I regret and say I wish I had remained in the position of councillor.”
The MP recounted the hardships he has endured, particularly since his arrest and imprisonment in Kigo prison in 2021, which took a toll on his health.
He disclosed that he had been subjected to police beatings and had been in and out of prison. These experiences had adverse effects on his well-being, leading to skin cancer, lung issues, and spinal cord problems.
Ssegirinya attributed these difficulties to political opponents who were dissatisfied with his victory in the MP election and wished to see him harmed. He expressed gratitude for being alive, attributing it to divine intervention.
Previously, Ssegirinya spent 524 days in jail shortly after his election as an MP, facing charges alongside Makindye West legislator Allan Ssewanyana related to a series of machete killings in greater Masaka in 2021.
Addressing his recent health complications, Ssegirinya explained that in August, he was admitted to Rubaga Hospital in Kampala, where it was discovered that he had lung tumors that could not be treated in Uganda.
Subsequently, he was transferred to Nairobi Hospital in Kenya, then to Germany, and finally to the Netherlands.
Initially, Ssegirinya accused Parliament of neglecting him by not covering his medical expenses.
However, when the matter was brought up in Parliament, they eventually paid his medical bills, totaling Shs75 million.
Joel Ssenyonyi, the National Unity Platform Spokesperson, welcomed Ssegirinya back to the country and expressed hope for his speedy recovery so that he could resume his parliamentary duties.
Chris Obore, the director of the Communication and Public Affairs department at Parliament, expressed gratitude for Ssegirinya’s life and wished him good health, emphasizing the role of doctors in treatment and the role of divine intervention in healing.