Former Kira Municipality MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda has revealed the painful dilemma behind his continued stay outside Uganda, saying his desire to return home is overshadowed by fears for his personal safety. The former legislator says he never imagined living in another country permanently, but the circumstances surrounding his departure have made returning a difficult decision.
Speaking during an interview on NTV’s Ebigambo Tebitta programme, Ssemujju explained that Uganda remains the country where he has spent most of his life. He said his previous travels abroad were mainly for work and that he had never planned to settle outside his homeland. According to him, being away from Uganda is not the life he wants, but he is worried about what could happen if he returns.
Ssemujju said his situation has left him caught between two difficult choices: remaining in exile despite missing home or returning to Uganda while fearing possible detention. He referred to the possibility of being taken to the alleged “basement,” a term associated with claims of secret detention and mistreatment. He said these concerns continue to influence his decision to stay abroad.
The former MP attributed his fears to alleged threats from Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who also leads the Patriotic League of Uganda. Ssemujju claimed that the threats extended to members of his family, increasing his concerns about the possible consequences of returning. However, these remain his allegations, and the claims would require independent verification.
“I have done nothing wrong and neither has any other person that is currently exiled,” Ssemujju said, defending himself and others who have left Uganda. He also pointed to Muhoozi’s public statements about people allegedly taken to the basement, saying such remarks had contributed to his anxiety about returning. His comments have once again drawn attention to concerns raised by some opposition figures about political freedom and personal security in Uganda.
Ssemujju has spent years in opposition politics, first through the Forum for Democratic Change and later the People’s Front for Freedom. During his political career, he became known for criticising government policies and questioning the involvement of security agencies in political affairs. His latest remarks suggest that his decision to remain abroad is not because he has abandoned his political home, but because he believes returning could put his safety at risk.
Despite the uncertainty, Ssemujju has not completely closed the door on returning to Uganda. He says he would prefer to live in his own country rather than continue life abroad, but hopes for circumstances that would allow him to come back without fearing detention or mistreatment. For him, the question is not whether Uganda is home, but whether he can safely return to it.
His account presents a difficult picture of exile, in which the longing for family, familiar surroundings and life in one’s homeland is weighed against concerns about personal freedom. While Ssemujju remains abroad, his remarks have renewed attention to the experiences of Ugandan opposition figures who say they fear returning home. Whether he will eventually come back may depend on how the political and security situation develops and whether the concerns he has raised can be addressed.
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