Even in the final moments, The late Muhammad Ssegirinya's life has been concluded amidst drama and chaos after the NUP Camp turned down and completely trashed the State funeral that was organized for the deceased.
As a member of Parliament, The late Honorable Muhammad Ssegirinya was entitled to an official state funeral organized by Parliament to commenorate his time in office as the Member of Parliament for Kawempe North constituency.
Well, it just so happens that NUP leader Bobi Wine and the entire NUP Camp were not up for the idea, which is why he decided to turn down the state organized funeral.
Remember that on Saturday evening, Ssegirinya’s body was delivered at his ancestral home in Butale cell, Nyendo-Mukungwe Division which is located in Masaka city and he was meant to be burried yesterday (Sunday.)
However, a group of NUP supporters that have come to be known by their nick name, "the foot soldiers” started shouting on top of their voices emerged and furiously blocked the funeral service teams from taking the body to the playground which happened to be the main venue for the state funeral arrangements.
There has also been division regarding this funeral considering that Ssegirinya’s body spent a night in his parent’s home whereas the organising team led by Mathias Mpuuga, chose to hold the funeral at a community playground, located not too far from the home.
As the band that was meant to accompany the deceased set out to begin a procession to take the body out, a rather furious mob of NUP supporters blocked the way, causing chaos and starting a fight.
In his own words, Mathias Mpuuga stated that the organising committee was working hand in hand with the family to host the funeral gathering at the playground, which would provide them enough space.
“It’s unfortunate that some people can choose to play petty politics over the body of a fallen comrade. It is not within our norms that we fight over dead bodies. It’s just civil and human and we respect our brother and we all we needed was to give him a decent burial,” Mpuuga said
Whereas the police tried to get their hands on the deceased body, they were out powered by the ruthless NUP supporters who locked the body away inside the house.
According to the Leader of Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi, they could not allow the state to take over the burial of their colleague, whose death is more than suspicious. He was firm as he stated that it was the same state that had a hand in the death of their colleague yet they were pretending to care at this particular time.
“The same state has a direct hand in Hon Ssegirinya’s death. They arrested him on made up charges, denied him bail to seek medical care until his situation deteriorated. It can’t be the same government that is now pretending to love him after death and want to work on his burial!" Ssenyonyi firmly stated.
