Immediately after he was declared MP in 2016, his opponent, the Democratic Party’s Steven Ssekigozi went to court contending that Ssematimba’s academic qualifications from America weren’t equivalent to the A-level required for contesting as a Member of Parliament.
Peter Ssematimba, the incumbent MP for Busiro South has defended his
decision last year to sit for the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education
[UACE] despite of a court ruling that said he had the requisite academic qualifications.
Immediately after he was declared MP in 2016, his opponent, the Democratic
Party’s Steven Ssekigozi went to court contending that Ssematimba’s academic qualifications from America weren’t equivalent to the A-level required for
contesting as a Member of Parliament.
High Court judge, Lydia Mugambe held that indeed, Ssematimba’s foreign acquired
qualifications didn’t equate to A-level hence ordering that the Electoral Commission
organizes a fresh elections in Busiro South.
However, a Court of Appeal panel led by the former deputy chief Justice
Steven Kavuma quashed Mugambe’s ruling and held that Ssematimba had what it
takes to be an MP.
In 2019, Ssematimba however stunned the country when it emerged that he
was one of the students who sat for A-level exams that year. Speaking to URN after
his nomination to contest for the same seat, Ssematimba said, sitting A–level exams
was not acknowledgement that he wasn’t qualified. He instead said, he doesn’t want
to go through the same nightmares he went through in 2016 after the court challenge.
He adds that he spent hundreds of millions in legal fees, a thing he doesn’t want
to go through again this time round.
//Cue in... “that will be
Cue out…of Busiro South,”//
On the criticism by some of his detractors that he spends more time in parliament
taking selfies and doing make up on himself than actual legislation, Ssematimba
said the problem with people is that they speak about things they don’t understand.
He said applying lip balm on his lips to stop them from drying up is not
the same as doing make up. He vowed to continue doing everything that makes him
who he is, even if it annoys some ‘ignorant people.’
//Cue in… “I don’t put
Cue out… in Busiro South,”//
Some of Ssematimba’s opponents who have been nominated today, accuse him
of spending more time in Kampala and outside the country than attending to
issues that affect his constituents.
William Kagimu one of the candidates challenging Ssematimba said he has
come to offer leadership that has evaded Ssematimba for close to five years he
has been in parliament.
//Cue in… “the present MP
Cue out… have got them,”//
For Ssekigozi Steven who lost to Ssematimba in the previous election
said, this time round, he is going to ensure that he protects what he called his
victory that was snatched from him.
Ssekigozi is contesting on the Democratic Party ticket whereas
Ssematimba is sponsored by the ruling National Resistance Movement.
//Cue in… “I would want
Cue out… Member of Parliament,”//
