Mourners at the burial of former Buyamba County MP Amos Mandela Mugerwa turned rowdy on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, after protesting condolence messages from their current representatives, Gyaviira Ssemwanga and Juliet Ssuubi Kinyamatama. The drama unfolded at Kibaati Village in Kajju Parish, Kacheera Sub-county, Rakai District, where sections of the crowd expressed anger over the absence of the two legislators at the final send-off.
The incident occurred when Kalungu West MP Gonzaga Ssewungu read condolence messages from Ssemwanga, the current Buyamba County MP, and Kinyamatama, the Rakai District Woman MP. He later delivered a separate message from Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa. However, the messages from the two local representatives did not go down well with some mourners, who demanded that they be withdrawn.
The protesting mourners accused the legislators of neglecting their constituents and only remembering them during funerals. They questioned why the leaders had chosen to send messages instead of attending in person to pay their last respects to Mandela, who previously represented Buyamba County in Parliament.
The absence of Ssemwanga and Kinyamatama became a major point of contention during the burial ceremony. Some mourners reportedly viewed their messages as insufficient, arguing that the occasion required the physical presence of the leaders to honour their predecessor and stand with the bereaved family.
Mandela died on Sunday, October 25, 2026, at Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala. His death has attracted attention beyond the burial controversy because of allegations that he was assaulted during the 2026 parliamentary election campaigns.
Reports indicate that the former legislator sustained injuries in an attack by unidentified assailants while preparing to appear on a radio talk show in Rakai. He later sought treatment at Mulago and other health facilities as his condition reportedly deteriorated. The circumstances of the alleged attack have raised concerns among those calling for clarity about the events that preceded his death.
Rakai Resident District Commissioner Sarah Kiyemba reportedly confirmed a connection between the alleged assault and the circumstances surrounding Mandela’s death. However, the precise medical cause of death and the full details of the reported attack require further verification. Establishing what happened will be important in addressing the concerns surrounding the former MP’s final days.
As mourners laid Mandela to rest, the protests over condolence messages exposed the strained relationship between some residents and their elected representatives. The burial became not only an occasion to mourn a former legislator but also a moment for constituents to express their dissatisfaction with political leadership. Whether the controversy will prompt a response from the absent MPs remains to be seen.
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