Sseggona has walked through mountains and valleys

He enters the law firm with a gentleman behind him carrying his files to find several clients awaiting his counsel. A “hello” to them and he proceeds to his chambers.

With the guidance of the receptionist, the clients, one-by-one, are called into his chambers for advice, which does not take more than five minutes due to busy schedules.

After spending close to an hour at the reception waiting to rub shoulders with the youthful MP, the receptionist signals me to go and see him.

In his chambers are very many photographs of Lukwago and the Kabaka of Buganda Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II on the wall.

Later, I learn that he has just moved in to occupy Lukwago’s office as his was at the other side of the law firm.

Explaining what really makes him tick in the high profile cases that he has handled of late, Sseggona attributes all his success to God and teamwork at their law firm.

“There are very many things that you must consider. First of all, I praise God, and I only submit myself to him to do his will. We are a team and when I’m busy, they help me do various things. I extend my working schedule till night, weekends and holidays,” Sseggona says.

“I also consult other lawyers within the firm and outside. It’s a combination of many factors. It’s not that I’m igneous, it is just that I submit to God, listen and prepare. “And when I have a bad case, I settle it out of court. We negotiate where the client is willing to settle,” he adds.

Busy Life
Sseggona explains that he is a member of various committees of Parliament which sessions are held at different times.

He notes that while not attending parliamentary committees, he negotiates cases, attends court, meets his clients and goes to the constituency to meet his electorate.

He also reveals that he utilises Mondays and Fridays to catch up with other duties, since the committees do not sit on those days.

Before he could finish explaining, one of his phones rings.

“You see I told you that I even attend to my electorates, the caller was one of my electorates telling me about the death of a relative….,” he tells me after answering the call.

Lately, as an advocate, Sseggona has handled high profile cases that include, Buganda riots, Rubaga North election petition involving Moses Kasibante and Singh Katongole and Butambala County election petition.

He has also handled a number of walk-to-work cases, which were thrown out of court after his arguments.

His latest high profile case was when he represented the Lord Mayor Lukwago in a power struggle case he filed against KCCA’s Executive Director Jennifer Musisi.

Though he did not win this case, Sseggona did not lose the case either as court advised Lukwago to explore other means of settling this matter out of court.

Giving some thoughts on the controversial Rubaga North election petition, Sseggona reveals that it was indeed a controversial case given the characters involved.

“It taught me to deal with all sorts of controversies. It took various dimensions but you must be prepared to deal with all sorts of characters. Actually, for a case to be in court, it should be controversial. It’s the degree of controversy that differs,” he says.

“It was explosive because of the characters involved and the manner in which the EC colluded with the losing candidate to rob victory and, of course, the participation of government in this controversy through the police and other security agencies.

Victories in court
“But also it was unprecedented, there is that provision in the Parliamentary Elections Act, which we had never put to test. That one of declaring someone a winner without going back to hold a by-election,” he added.

He, however, cites Hajj Nanduli’s 2006 LC5 chairman election case as the case that has so far upset him so much in his 10 years’ experience as a lawyer and made him consider quitting the legal practice.

Sseggona represented Naduli at High Court level and won the case. But tables turned against him when the Court of Appeal ruled otherwise and he did not have a chance to appeal against the court’s decision as it was final being the last court in matters involving local council elections.

His mother, wife Diana Lubega and the Kabaka; are the most important people in the MP’s life.

“The Kabaka is the foundation of our culture and existence and he makes our community what it is, he can either make it or break it, and our dignity, decency and civility are all traced in that direction,” he said.

“About my mother, where would I be … and for my wife, even when everyone deserts me, she is there. You know when these fellows wanted to kill me; she was there to die with me. That is all I can say about her, she does not like public life,” he adds.

The MP reveals that the worst thing that has ever happened to him is when he was locked up on the orders of President Museveni.

He says it was not a show of wisdom but simply a show of “yes, I can do it” and that Museveni and David Tinyefuza are now regretting why they did such a thing – “they were up to some mischief”.

Speaking about his future, Sseggona says it is only God who knows.

“I work towards a bright future, I have a vision for my life, my constituency and my country and I’m praying to God to make them come true,” he adds.To those who look up to Sseggona as their mentor, he advises them to fear God, respect humanity, work hard and always think before they act.

“You know when people act before they think this country will be in anarchy. You remember when President Museveni blocked the Kabaka from travelling to Kayuga, then he started thinking, up to day, he is regretting why he made such a decision. No leader could make such a decision even during the 18th century,” the youthful leader says.

Fact file:
Education
· Dip in legal practice from LDC- 2002-
· 2 LLB (HONS) , Makerere University -1997/01
· UACE , Caltec Academy Makerere - 1995/97
· UCE, Entebbe Parents SSS - 1991/94
· PLE, Mayungwe Primary School in Mpigi - 1983/90

Work History
· Lukwago and Co. advocates- 2003 - todate
· MUBs from 2002 - 2011

Politics
· Member of committee on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs
· Member on Committee on Rules, Discipline and Privileges
· He is a MP of DP
· MP for Busiiro East.

Family
Married to Dr Diana Lubega (June 9, 2007).

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