By Brian Mugenyi
Former Vice President and Bukoto Central Member of Parliament Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi continues to embody leadership through practical action, leaving a lasting mark on Masaka District.
Currently serving as the Presidential Special Envoy on Political Affairs, Ssekandi’s political and socio-economic contributions are widely acknowledged across the region. From the rural stretches of Kyanamukaka to the broader constituency, his developmental footprint spans agriculture, infrastructure, education, and community welfare.
“By nature, he is not a man of publicity. He prefers to deliver development quietly under the cover before it comes to light,” says John Kakande, the Masaka District Chairman.
Kakande’s observation captures Ssekandi’s quiet leadership style—a approach reflected in local accounts of his decades-long service. His interventions include rural electrification, agricultural support, road construction, emergency food relief, and the provision of land for public administration.
Infrastructure and Energy
One of Ssekandi’s key legacies is the transformation of rural transport and energy networks. Between 2006 and 2020, he supported efforts to extend power lines across Bukoto Central, reaching trading centers and remote landing sites. Access to electricity has invigorated small businesses, enhanced night-time security, and boosted commercial activities, particularly within fishing communities.
In infrastructure, Ssekandi successfully lobbied for the tarmac road linking Kamuzinda to Kyanamukaka. This connection helped propel Kyanamukaka from a sleepy village into a thriving Town Council and administrative hub. Local leaders note that Ssekandi often deployed personal resources, including providing road graders to clear access routes before state-funded works began.
Agriculture and Emergency Relief
Agriculture remains the backbone of Masaka, and Ssekandi’s interventions have directly bolstered household incomes. Coordinating with the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA), he facilitated the distribution of approximately one million coffee seedlings to local farmers. He also provided cattle, seed inputs, and crop support to strengthen food security.
His responsiveness to local crises was evident during the severe 2006 drought, when he distributed direct food aid to relief-stricken families in Kyesiiga.
Institutional Support and Public Assets
Ssekandi’s community-first approach extends to faith-based and public institutions. Over the years, he supported Kkindu Church with iron sheets and aided the construction of priests’ residences and local church facilities. Through the Bukoto Central Youth Link Group, he provided financial assistance and agricultural inputs to empower young entrepreneurs.
To bolster emergency health response, Ssekandi helped expand local ambulance services across Kyanamukaka in 2020. Local leaders, including Kyanamukaka Town Council Mayor Zaina Nakidde, point to these efforts as key components of a broader push to bring health, education, and sanitation services closer to the people.
Perhaps his most lasting contribution to public administration is his personal donation of 10 acres of land at Kyambazzi. Given to house the Masaka District Headquarters, the land provides a permanent home for district administrative offices that previously operated from scattered rented premises.
A Quiet Legacy
Despite his high-profile career as a Dar es Salaam-trained lawyer, former Speaker of Parliament, and Vice President, Ssekandi remains dedicated to grassroots development. Even today, he continues his civic work and supports ongoing projects, including expanding facilities at St. Mugagga Secondary School and establishing a local vocational institute.
As Private Secretary Oscar Mutebi puts it: “He is a teacher, a grandfather, and an ambassador of development. Many know Kyanamukaka because of his devotion to it.”
For the residents of Masaka, Ssekandi’s legacy is not defined by grand political speeches, but by the roads, power lines, schools, and institutions that continue to serve their everyday lives.
The post Ssekandi’s Legacy in Masaka: The Leader Living by Example appeared first on Watchdog Uganda.