Ssemujju explains decision to flee Uganda amid threats

Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, the former Member of Parliament for Kira Municipality and Secretary General of the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), has revealed his reasons for seeking refuge outside Uganda. Ssemujju cited continuous threats against him and the recent detentions of fellow opposition figures as the primary catalysts for his departure.

Speaking via Zoom, Ssemujju explained that the arrests of prominent opposition leaders, including Dr. Kizza Besigye, Erias Lukwago, and Muwanga Kivumbi, heightened his personal safety concerns. “There were constant threats from the CDF that I’m next (to be arrested)… and I needed to take a break from these threats,” he stated, emphasizing his fear of ending up in what he termed the “military basement.”

While Ssemujju has left his family behind in Uganda, he has not disclosed his current location. He believes he can contribute more effectively to the political discourse from abroad than by remaining in Uganda under duress. His decision follows a pattern of opposition politicians and critics seeking exile, including figures like Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine), Kakwenza Rukirabashaija, and Stella Nyanzi.

Ssemujju views this trend as indicative of a shrinking political space and a weakening of multiparty democracy in Uganda. He expressed hope that those in power would reconsider their approach and return the country to a democratic path. He further noted that even those opposition members who remain in Uganda often self-censor due to pervasive fear and intimidation.

The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), through spokesperson Emmanuel Dombo, has dismissed these claims, asserting that opposition members still have freedom of expression and should utilize platforms like the Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD) to voice their concerns. However, rights activists, like Dr. Livingstone Sewanyana of the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI), warn that alleged abductions and mistreatment of opposition supporters are creating an atmosphere of fear and insecurity, potentially leading to further emigration for political reasons.

Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)