Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda
Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, commonly known as Ibrahim Ssemujju, is a Ugandan journalist and politician. He is the member of Parliament representing Kira municipality in the 10th Parliament (2016 to 2021).[1]
Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda | |
|---|---|
| Born | 23 September 1973 |
| Nationality | Ugandan |
| Citizenship | Uganda |
| Alma mater | Masaka Secondary School (Uganda Certificate of Education) (Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education) Makerere University (Bachelor of Mass Communication) |
| Occupation | Journalist and politician |
| Years active | 1995 — present |
| Known for | Politics |
| Home town | Kyazanga |
| Title | Member of Parliament Kiira Municipality |
| Spouse(s) | Faridah Ssemujju |
Background and education
Ssemujju was born in Bijaaba Village, Kyazanga Municipality, Lwengo District, on 23 September 1973. At that time, Lwengo District was still part of Masaka District. He is the son of Hajji Ali Nganda Nkwanga and Hajati Sophia Nalwooga, one of his forty-eight children and one of her sixteen offspring.[2]
He attended the Bijaaba Islamic Institute, "a few meters from his birthplace", obtaining the Primary Leaving Certificate while there. After the institute started a secondary school section, Ssemujju joined. However, by Senior 2, most of his female classmates had found husbands and dropped out, while his male cohorts left for odd jobs in nearby Masaka Town. He raised whatever little capital he could and convinced his father to enroll him in Masaka Secondary School for his Senior 3 studies. At that time, he barely spoke any English, but they admitted him anyway.
He progressively did well and passed his O-Level examinations in 1992. He went on to pursue his A-Level education, also at Masaka Secondary School. He graduated at the top of his class in 1995. He was admitted to Makerere University, on a full Ugandan government scholarship to study mass communication. He graduated in 1998 with a Bachelor of Arts mass communication.[3][2]
Career
Straight out of Makerere, he was hired as a reporter for the Daily Monitor, one of the two leading English language daily newspapers in Uganda, serving in that role until 2004. His beat was coverage of the Ugandan parliament. From 2000 until 2001, he taught journalism at the Islamic University in Uganda. In 2004, he left the Daily Monitor to join The Observer, both as a reporter and as a shareholder. He was assigned the role of political editor at the Weekly Observer, serving in that role until 2011. In 2009, he was assigned additional duties as the editor, educational news. In 2011, he resigned from his journalism assignments to contest the parliamentary seat of Kyaddondo County East. He ran on the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) political party platform. He won and is the current incumbent.[3][2] Prior to the February 2016 presidential, parliamentary, and local elections, Kira Municipality was awarded a parliamentary seat, separate from Kyaddondo East. Ssemujju is contesting for that seat under the FDC political party banner.[4]
Other considerations
In parliament, he chairs the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises. He is also a member of the Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs and of the Business Committee.[3] He is married to Faridah Ssemujju, and together are the parents of two daughters and two sons.[2]
References
- "As it happened: Municipal elections". www.newvision.co.ug. Retrieved 2019-04-23.
- Kavuma, Richard M. (13 January 2011). "Ssemujju Ibrahim Nganda: All That You Didn't Know About This Journalist-Turned-Politician". The Observer (Uganda). Retrieved 17 March 2015.
- POU (2011). "Profile of Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, Member of Parliament for Kyaddondo County East, Wakiso District". Parliament of Uganda (POU). Retrieved 17 March 2015.
- Nalugo, Mercy (22 January 2016). "Ssemujju setting the pace in contest for new Kira municipality". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 22 January 2016.