“I Lost My Seat, But Kept My Name”: Ssekikubo Reflects on Vindication as Parliament Corruption Probe Intensifies

Parliament Watch – As Uganda’s outgoing 11th Parliament hands over the baton, former Lwemiyaga County MP Theodore Ssekikubo has broken his silence on a political journey marked by anti-corruption battles, personal loss, and what he calls the rare gift of seeing justice while still alive.

In an emotional interview at Parliament on May 20, 2026, Ssekikubo spoke of profound relief amid ongoing high-profile investigations into alleged corruption within parliamentary leadership—probes that mirror his own failed 2024 censure push.

“I Have Not Disgraced My Parliament”

Ssekikubo, who lost his seat in recent elections, recalled past insults from former Speaker Anita Annet Among, who reportedly accused him of speaking “nonsense.” He contrasted that ridicule with his untainted record.

“I fully knew it was meant to divert my attention. But what is the problem if you say I speak nonsense? … It is better. I have not disgraced my Parliament, I have not disgraced the people of Lwemiyaga, I have not disgraced my country,” he said.

Fighting back emotion, he added: “For you to get justice when you’re still alive is too, too important. You feel good, you feel like you want to cry… What is there for me now to win? Can I win back my seat? I was fought; I lost that seat.”

2024 Censure Motion That Failed

Ssekikubo’s comments come as investigators raid properties linked to former Speaker Among, seizing luxury vehicles including a Rolls-Royce Cullinan from her homes in Nakasero and Kigo. The raids echo Ssekikubo’s 2024 efforts, alongside MP Isaac Otimgiw of Padyere County, to censure four Parliamentary Commissioners over an alleged self-awarded UGX 1.7 billion “service award.”

Critics noted no clear legal basis for the payments under parliamentary rules or the Public Finance Management Act. Though the censure motion reportedly gathered 145–180 signatures, it was thwarted by parliamentary leadership, with Ssekikubo describing an “unimaginable” security siege.

Legal Framework and Sanctions

Uganda’s Anti-Corruption Act 2009 (especially Section 11 on abuse of office and illicit enrichment) and the Leadership Code Act mandate asset declarations and penalize unexplained wealth. The Anti-Money Laundering Act further enables transaction tracing. In 2024, Among and others faced international sanctions from the US and UK over corruption concerns.

Ssekikubo faulted the government for inaction at the time, claiming it allowed Parliament to “run amok” and left anti-corruption MPs isolated.

“We held the bull by the horns… but we were let down,” he remarked, suggesting the current probe should be broadened to include an audit of security personnel deployed to Parliament.

Otimgiw: “Parliament Is Corrupt and Rotten”

Isaac Otimgiw, who seconded the 2024 censure motion, echoed Ssekikubo’s sentiments: “I am not worried about the investigation… I was among the first MPs to speak out and say, Parliament is corrupt and rotten.” He welcomed the probe ordered under President Yoweri Museveni’s administration, though he regretted it did not come earlier, and called for a broader overhaul.

A Shift in Accountability?

The 11th Parliament (2021–2026) passed significant legislation but faced repeated accusations of opaque financial dealings, patronage, and suppression of internal dissent. Analysts see the ongoing probe as a possible shift toward greater accountability, though questions remain about its scope and timing—coinciding with the transition to the 12th Parliament.

Among has reportedly cooperated and stepped back from the Speakership race.

Ssekikubo tempered his final remarks: “I don’t want to be seen like dancing on the grave. We did our part, let others do theirs.”