Outspoken Lwemiyaga County Member of Parliament, Theodore Ssekikubo, has officially bid farewell to the Parliamentary Defense Committee, a body he has served for four terms.
Ssekibuo lost the Lwemiyaga seat to Brig Emmanuel Rwashande in the 2026 parliamentary election to bring to an end his 20-year hold onto the constituency.
During his departure on Tuesday, Ssekikubo did not hold back in expressing frustration at police officials, led by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Abas Byakagaba, for failing to protect his vote and personal safety during the recent chaotic elections.
"I would like to express my gratitude to the team I have worked with on this defense committee. I have been at the front seat fighting for police budgets regardless of other factors," Ssekikubo said. "But I would like to tell you that the people of Lwemiyaga did not vote, and the same thing took place in Hon. Namugga's constituency. Goons raided my farm, and when I moved to Lwemiyaga, I found one Lt. Ziliwa inside my kraal, who participated in the death of one of my voters! Why is police treating people selectively?"
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He further recounted the damage inflicted during the invasion of his farm:
"On that fateful day, they vandalized my farm, but I am glad I am still alive. These people are on rampage as if there is a total breakdown of law and order," Ssekikubo said, visibly emotional.
In a moving submission before committee members, including Minister for Internal Affairs Kahinda Otafiire, State Minister David Muhoozi, and IGP Byakagaba, Ssekikubo described how police protection assigned to him during the election period was abruptly withdrawn:
"At the eve of elections, I spent the whole day at the IGP's office. I had to speak for protection from police, and finally the IGP told me to go and see the RPC South West, who referred me to the DPC Ssembabule, who assigned me two police officers. These officers were withdrawn the following day. On the day of elections, I was almost shot during one of the scuffles, but thank God I am still alive," he said.
Responding to the allegations, IGP Abas Byakagaba apologized to Ssekikubo, citing the overwhelming responsibilities during the election period:
"I am clearly aware that being human, you cannot manage this office and meet all concerns. If there's anybody who can meet all the people who have concerns, I pray to get that ability! Otherwise, I apologize to Honorable Theodore Ssekikubo," Byakagaba said.
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Throughout his tenure on the Defense Committee, Ssekikubo has been a vocal critic of human rights violations by security forces, as well as Uganda's deployment of contingents to Somalia, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
