I WILL DELIVER MR. PRESIDENT: In the photo, Rtn. Lubowa Gyaviira Ssebina looks to be assuring H.E Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi that he will make the best MP. NUP wants him to take over from Hon. Mathias Mpuuga as MP Nyendo-Mukungwe
STORY BY: MARY KADDU, MASAKA
JUST a few days after opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) Buganda Vice President Hon. Muwanga Kivumbi, also Buganda Caucus Chairman, declared Nyendo-Mukungwe among the empty constituencies where NUP must field a candidate to fill the vacuum, the incumbent Hon. Mathias Mpuuga Nsamba early this week officially left NUP and formed Democratic Front (DF) Party!
However, even before Mpuuga declared the formation of a new Party, NUP had already started shopping for a dangerous and strong candidate in the names of Lubowa Gyaviira Ssebina, well educated, well grounded in Buganda Kingdom, the Catholic Church and very loyal to the Kavule NUP Party headquaters.
In the Photo, Hon. Kyagulanyi and wife Barbie at Rubaga Cathedral for a Tuesday Class Mass. On Bobi’s right is Rtn. Lubowa Gyaviira Ssebina.
Insiders say, although there are other aspirants showing interest in the Nyendo-Mukungwe constituency, Rtn. Lubowa Gyaviira Ssebina is unequaled and Party leadership is convinced that he is the best deployment for this seat, considering his level of education, connections, Catholic Church links, particiapation in party activities and loyalty to Supreme leader of NUP, H.E President Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi plus the entire party top leadership.
For starters, Hon. Lubowa Gyaviira is among the much respected top leaders of Makerere University. If NUP is looking for a candidate who perfectly fits in Mpuuga’s shoes as per the level of education, Lubowa Ssebina supercedes the required level of education.
Reserved, very fluent in English, a great researcher and highly informed, Hon. Lubowa is an answered prayer for Nyendo-Mukungwe. In him NUP will have a self contained legislator.
LUBOWA GYAVIIRA – BUGANDA KINGDOM TIES
It is true Hon. Mpuuga served as Kabaka’s youth minister. However, also Hon. Lubowa Gyaviira Ssebina and Mengo are inseparable. He grew up as a member of Nkobazamboga, an Association of Buganda Youth in Universities and tertiary institutions. He once served as the Publicity Secretary of Nkobazambogo at MUBS. He mobilized and united Buganda Youth, bringing institutions together to serve Kingdom interests. Lubowa Gyaviira sits on the Board of Lubiri High School, Buloba Campus, and has done much to streamline financial management of this Kabaka’s School.
Insiders at Mengo say, with three others, Lubowa Gyaviira developed an idea to start Buganda Royal Institute of Business and Technical Education, Mengo. In fact it was his brain child.
In Buddu County, it is on record, Lubowa Gyaviira is among the top sponsors of Buddu Masaza football team. He contributed greatly to the rehabilitation of Buddukiro House in Masaka and selflessly supports all Kingdom functions.
For starters, Lubowa Gyaviira is a serving Katikkiro of Ngo clan, one of the most powerful and well organised clans in Buganda. He is in Kabaka’s good books for doing a lot for the Kingdom. No wonder his name is a byword at Kabaka’s radio CBS. So if NUP is looking for a leader with a Mengo clearance card, Lubowa is the answer.
PHOTO: Bobi and Lubowa attending Omutaka Mutesaasira’s wedding. Mutesaasira is the Ngo clan leader
On many Kingdom functions, Hon. Kyagulanyi is always seen comfortably seated with Rtn. Lubowa Gyaviira. We have the footage! So whoever thought Mengo will lose Mpuuga, Lubowa is ready to start where Mpuuga stopped as far as promoting Kindgom interests is concerned be it in Parliament or even beyond.
CHURCH LINKS
Whoever questioned Lubowa Gyaviira’s links to the Catholic Church, needs to read this; He served as head of laity (Ssabakirisitu) in Wakiso Parish. In Nyendo-Mukungwe, Masaka, his father (late) Stefano Mwanje donated a piece of land to the Church where Kyali-Kyalugo Subparish stands. St. Bruno Saza Parish has four Subparishes, and Kyali-Kyalugo is one of them.
Lubowa Gyaviira has been pivotal in the construction of Kyali-Kyalugo Subparish Catholic church. He even sits on the construction committee. He sits on the Board of Butende Bricks, a project of Masaka Diocese making building materials. A member of the laity commission coperative, a member of the Cathedral foundation, Lubowa is deeply involved in the activities of the Church.
ON THE ISSUE OF LOYALTY
Investigations show, Bobi Wine is proud of Lubowa Ssebina! Regardless of his level of education and the powerful financial muscles, Lubowa is a down to earth leader who has never even uttered a word against his party boss. Everytime Bobi Wine calls Lubowa, his only reply is, “Here I am my President”.
When Hon. Lubowa Gyaviira (in a beret) checked at his President when he was shot by a teargas canister
We are told, as Lubowa family, they started supporting Bobi Wine’s music before he even thought of joining elective politics, yes they were his fans.
Lubowa and his family loved Bobi’s way of doing things, the way he established himself and how he organises his team.
Months ago when Bobi Wine visited Masaka, Hon. Lubowa almost single handedly footed all the bills as Masaka prepared to receive the political gladiator and for those who attended, you all watched Nakaseke South MP Paul Ssemakula Luttamaguzi openly endorsing Lubowa for Nyendo-Mukungwe MP race in the presence of Hon. Kyagulanyi. Inner circles reveal that, Bobi had a hand in this declaration.
Lubowa is very close to Party SG David Lewis Rubongaya and Chairman Fred Ssentamu Nyanzi, Bobi’s brother. He is a real MP material and this makes him the most favourite for MP Nyendo-Mukungwe.
GROUND CHECK
On ground, Lubowa Gyaviira is a darling to voters. He is approachable, kind and doesn’t conflict with fellow leaders which endears him to footsoldiers.
He has stood in solidarity with political prisoners and stood surety. He is not even shy of paying bail for those arrested because of political beliefs.
Lubowa works closely with Hon. Charles Kirumira, Mayor Florence Namayanja and all NUP top shots in Greater Masaka. In fact, fellow NUP leaders in Masaka already endorsed his candidature and the Party headquater is aware. It will be next to impossible for any other aspirant to defeat Lubowa in pursuing the party ticket. All signs, including the recent opinion polls conducted, show Lubowa is the next member of parliament for Nyendo Mukungwe.
LUBOWA SSEBINA FOUNDATION
Through this foundation established in 2021 and registered in 2022 as a legal entity with an office in the constituency, many lives of the needy and helpless have been touched.
The foundation caters for the education of the disadvantaged, Health & Environment, Culture, Religious Affairs, Gender and Social Affairs.It looks after the elderly in the community, visits the helpless and organises annual events involving the old and the youth to bridge the gap.
The foundation helps to educate and mobilise the youth, gives elderly care to the the old people.He supports talent identification and organises a Netball tournament, annually. In 2022, Lubowa Gyaviira took She-Cranes, the National Netball team, to do community work in Nyendo-Mukungwe. The team was heading to Birmingham, UK for competitions.
WHO IS LUBOWA GYAVIIRA SSEBINA?
Born to late Stefano Mwanje and Miran Nannyomo Namayanja of Kyali-Kyalugo village in Nyendo Mukungwe, Masaka, Lubowa Gyaviira comes from a very humble background!
He started his studies at Ndegeya Primary School and sat Primary Leaving Examinations at Kasijjagirwa Army Primary School in Masaka.
A son of the soil, Lubowa joined Kaddugala Secondary School in Masaka for Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) and sat HSC at Masaka Secondary School commonly known as Agakhan!
Those knowing Lubowa Gyaviira since his youthful days revealed to us that, he used to ride a bicycle to and from school after his father sold a piece of land to buy it.
He enrolled at Makerere University Business School (MUBS) for a Diploma in Business Studies. When he graduated, he returned to Masaka to practice accounting at Kaddugala Secondary school for 5 years. From there, he joined Makerere University as Account Assistant and later elevated to a deputy Bursar of this great University, an office he has held now for the last 20 years. He worked with for Byambabazi, former MUK bursar and Augustine Tamale, the Finance Manager at Vision Group.
He enrolled for Professional Accountancy at The Institute of Certified Public Accountants (CPA) of Uganda. Before that, Lubowa Gyaviira enrolled for The Association of Certified Chattered Accountants (ACCA) in UK.
A graduate of Professional Accountancy, Lubowa Gyaviira taught fellow Accountants and many District Chief Finance Officers were his students. He helped MUK to start a centre for professional Accountancy around 2012.
Lubowa Gyaviira Studied a Master Degree in Msc in Finance and Accounting. He also studied Management at the University of Pretoria. He has many other qualifications.
TRUSTED GENERAL: Bobi and Barbie in a photo with Lubowa Gyaviira and wife
In the next story, we will analyse other contenders like counsel Sam Muyizi who many people think is a Mpuuga’s blue eyed boy and with no political roots in the constituency.
For Alice Nannungi, the party is considering to front her for MP Masaka City where Mpuuga’s woman Juliet Kakande is serving as the incumbent member of Parliament. Juliet Kakande has also crossed to Hon. Mpuuga’s new Party and NUP badly want this seat.
However this seat will also be highly competed for. A one Nanyonga Sawiya has already showed interest. We will come back with another analysis on that! This is a developing story!
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