KAMPALA – The widows of the late Kawempe North Member of Parliament, Muhammad Ssegirinya, have publicly appealed for help, alleging that close associates of their late husband have forcefully taken over his properties, leaving them and their children destitute.
Fatumah Nanfuka and Mariam Nakabuye, who were recognized with their children through DNA testing, addressed a somber press conference detailing a series of property seizures they have endured since the MP’s passing.
Their most immediate concern is the family home in Kasangati. The widows accused a man identified as Francis Wasswa of illegally occupying the house. They claim Wasswa asserts he contributed money during the construction phase and is now demanding a payment of Shs 23 million from the grieving families before they can reclaim what is rightfully theirs.
“The house our husband built for us and his children has been taken from us. We are being asked for money we do not have to access our own home,” said a tearful Fatumah Nanfuka.
The financial distress does not end there. The women revealed that another individual, who claimed to be a friend of the late legislator, has taken control of their rental properties in Kawanda. They stated that this man has been collecting rent from the tenants but has not remitted any of the payments to the widows and their children, who are the legitimate beneficiaries.
“This was our only reliable source of income to feed and educate Ssegirinya’s children. It has been cut off by someone we thought was a friend,” Mariam Nakabuye added.
In a further blow, the ambulance that the late MP famously used to provide free medical transportation for sick residents in Kawempe has also been taken. The widows named his former aide, Luwemba Luswa, as the person currently in possession of the vehicle. They alleged that Luswa recently used the ambulance as a campaign tool during the recent Kawempe by-elections.
The plight of the Ssegirinya family highlights the vulnerabilities faced by widows and children in the aftermath of a prominent figure’s death, often leading to disputes over estates and the exploitation of their grief.
The widows have called upon government authorities, cultural leaders, and well-wishers to intervene and help them secure their late husband’s estate for the welfare of his children. As of now, the accused parties have not publicly responded to these allegations.
