Parliament observed a moment of silence in honour of the late Dr Paul Kawanga Ssemogerere, who was the Democratic Party (DP) leader for 25 years.
Ssemogerere died on Friday, 18 November 2022 aged 90 years and was laid to rest on Monday, 21 November 2022 at Nattale- Nkumba, in Entebbe, Wakiso District.
He contested twice for the presidency – in 1980 and 1996, losing both to Dr Apollo Milton Obote and President Yoweri Museveni respectively.
After a decade of service, he retired from active politics in 2005 but remained a senior figure in the Opposition until his death.
He led the DP for 25 years after replacing Benedicto Kiwanuka who was murdered in 1972. Dr Ssemogerere handed over the party leadership to the late John Ssebana Kizito in 2005, the former Kampala City Mayor.
As MPs convened for the plenary on Tuesday, 22 November 2022, the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, formally communicated the demise of the veteran politician, describing him as a distinguished leader with an illustrious political and leadership career.
“The return of multi-party democracy in 2000 is attributed to the consistent advocacy by Dr Paul Ssemogerere, among other national leaders,” said Among.
The Speaker urged the Leader of Government Business and the Leader of the Opposition to consider moving a bi-partisan motion for the House to pay tribute for the distinguished service that the late Ssemogerere offered to the country.
The Government Chief Whip, Hon. Denis Obua, undertook to present a motion to Parliament on Thursday, 24 November 2022, in honour of the late Ssemogerere.