Immanuel Ben Misagga
Every cloud has a silver lining, right? That’s exactly how I’m choosing to look at the recent general election results, especially the ones that caught a lot of us off guard. You had established politicians like Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, Busiro East MP Medard Sseggona, Kira Municipality’s Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, and Nyendo-Mukungwe’s Mathias Mpuuga all losing their seats. Lest I forget, the list includes my friends: outgoing Makindye West MP Allan Ssewanyana and the ‘bull of Ayivu,’ Benard Atiku.
Shocking? Absolutely. But here is the thing: maybe this isn’t the end of their story. Maybe it’s just a pivot.
Hear me out: for the next five years, before the next election cycle rolls around, why not return to something they were just as passionate about before politics came calling? Football.
These weren’t just politicians who dabbled in sports on the side. They were deeply embedded in the game.
Take Ssemujju, for instance. Long before he was in the August House, he was a die-hard Express FC supporter—the kind of hardliner who didn’t just cheer from the stands but had a real hand in shaping the club’s leadership. That kind of passion doesn’t just disappear.
Then there’s Lukwago. He’s already the patron of KCCA FC. The groundwork is there. All he has to do is step in more actively, more visibly. Imagine the energy he could bring.
Mpuuga’s case is especially interesting. He’s been quietly supporting football in the Masaka region for a while now. But we need to see him take the lead and revive Masaka Union FC. That club used to be a real force and produced many talented players. With his backing and influence, it could rise again. The sub-region would rally behind it—and behind him.
And Sseggona? Just three years ago, he threw his hat in the ring for the Villa presidency. And honestly? He might have actually won it if the whole process hadn’t been bungled. Now that he’s out of Parliament, this is the perfect time to dive back into Villa leadership. Let him show the doubters that his connection to the club isn’t just political window dressing. Let him live it.
As for Ssewanyana, he is already back to his former role as a sports media pundit, but it is at KCCA that I want him to serve the game best.
Meanwhile, Atiku, I believe, still has what it takes to resurrect football in West Nile. He was the mastermind behind the emergence of Onduparaka and, despite losing the MP race in 2021, I firmly believe he would have won had he kept the club in the mainstream fold. It is not too late.
At the end of the day, football keeps you connected. It keeps you grounded. It keeps you in touch with the people—maybe even more than politics does. And for these leaders, it could be a way to stay visible, stay relevant, and stay busy in a meaningful way.
They don’t have to look far for inspiration. Just ask Bidandi Ssali. After his party, UPM, lost the 1980 general elections and he personally lost the Nakawa MP race, he didn’t fade away. He stepped back onto the pitch—literally. First as coach, then as an administrator at KCCA FC. Throughout the entire UPC regime, he remained a powerful figure in Ugandan life—not because of politics, but because of football.
So yes, voters may have shown them the door, for now. But if they channel that energy back into the beautiful game, football might just be the biggest winner of all.
The author is a football investor and SC Villa President Emeritus.
