By Shibah Nasali
Shortly after being chosen National Unity Party(NUP) flag bearer for Lord Mayor, Hajji Ssebagala has quit the race. Ssebagala who beat singer Joseph Mayanja for the position has a new stand now and it is not to stand for the position of Kampala Lord Mayor. Speaking to the press yesterday 22nd September Ssebagala clearly announced his intention to step down saying “I have withdrawn from the mayoral race of Kampala in the best interest of wider opposition and also given the fact that we have many conflicting interests within us as NUP and even Members of NUP supporting different candidates may cost us the city.” He went ahead to apologize to his supporters, his party NUP and all those who had trust in him.
This came just a day after being chosen over his opponent singer Jose Chameleoene to represent the party in the race. Ssebagala asked his supporters to respect his decision as he prepares to unveil his next plan.
This however should not come as a surprise to the public since Ssebagala has had to change his mind a number of times since 2019. At the beginning of the year, Ssebagala announced that he would run for Mayor of Kampala City and also made rounds on different media platforms soliciting for supporters for the position. Towards the end of 2019, he withdrew from the race to return to Kawempe North as Member of Parliament; a position he has held since 2001.
No sooner had he returned to the mayoral race and also won the ticket of National Unity party than he abandoned it leaving the public wondering what could be next for him.
