Richard Sebamala, a ‘Taxi Conductor’ who became a member of Parliament

Richard Sebamala is a Ugandan civil engineer, a social entrepreneur and a member of Parliament representing Bukoto Central, an electoral Constituency in Kampala, Uganda’s capital.

The legislator, a former catholic seminarian who started his career as a taxi conductor is now eying to unseat Nobert Mao, Uganda’s minister of constitutional affairs from the presidency of the Democratic Party (DP), one of the oldest political parties in the East African bloc country.

Brian Mugenyi visited him in Bukoto to find out how he has beaten the odds to rise to prominence.

Sebamala as a child:

Born to Cyrus Ndawula and Betty Nanyonga residents of Gulama village, Buwunga Sub County in Masaka District Engineer Ssebamala as he is renowned, is hands-on and down to earth. He started his academic journey from Buganda Road Primary School and Kanebukuliro where he sat for his national primary leaving examinations. He then joined St Modesta Bisanje Secondary School, Blessed Sacrament Kimanya and St Benard Nkoni.

In 1993, he joined Bukalasa Seminary for his O’ Level and later Namilyango College and Jinja College where he finished his Advanced Level before enrolling for a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering at Kyambogo University and graduated in 2005.

Some of the members of the Sebamala Family/ PHOTO: Brian Mugenyi

“Initially, the government had given me sponsorship to study Chemistry, psychology and Computer Science but after two months of studying I realized that my interest was in Civil Engineering,” Sebamala explained to this publication why he changed the course.

“As a student, I had to be more creative because my father was broke, so I used to walk from Lunguja to Kyambogo and during my senior six vacation I used to act as a shopkeeper at my mother’s business,” he fanatically revealed.

The career Path:

As a boy, Sebamala used to work in his father’s coffee farm to earn pocket money.

After completing university, Sebamala started as a taxi conductor along Masaka- Kyotera road before he became a renown Ugandan civil engineer.

“I remember asking Eng. Sam Kibego and Omulangira JJuuko to get me a job at FUFA. I wanted to be a foreman back then, but I was rather considered as a helper (Porter) to them,” he recollects how he became a trainee at FUFA, a position that unlocked opportunities for his career growth.

Joining Politics:

When he completed studies at Dana College, Nebraska in the United States of America, he saw an opportunity in Bukoto Central Constituency as the then area member of Parliament who doubled as the Vice president of Uganda was ‘so busy and unavailable’ to solve the plight of the locals.

In 2021 Sebamala then defeated the former Vice President of Uganda Kiwanika Sekandi to become Bukoto Central Constituency member of Parliament. The victory seems to have angered many including Haruna Kasolo, currently the state Minister for Microfinace who vowed to unseat Sebamala from the constituency.

Sebamala emerged victorious by 9,916 votes beating Edward Ssekandi with 4,902 and Magellan Kazine with 1701 votes.

This is what is alleged to have given the Democratic Party a leverage to unseat the ‘controversial’ Mobert Mao from the presidency of the party and replace him with Sebamala.

The Democratic Party (Chama Cha Kidemokrasia) was founded in 1954 with a Christian Democracy and Social conservatism ideologies. The party has been led by Paul Kawanga Ssemwogere for 25 years until 2005 when he was replaced by John Ssebana Kizito who led the party until 2010 when the incumbent Nobert Mao came into power.

“I’ve loved politics since my childhood. So, when I looked into my network in politics of which many are my friends like Kenya’s William Ruto and others in the East African Community, I had to give in my all and this is the right time for me to cooperate with other leaders,” the smiling Sebamala revealed to this publication.

Sebamala’s generous heart:

As politics becomes one of the most lucrative business in Uganda, Sebamala has remained to his cause of improving the quality of lives among his constituents.

Sebamala inspecting one of the football team players participating in Sebamala Football Tournament

Sebamala has achieved momentary goals in empowering women and improving youth livelihoods.

As the founder of Bukoto Microfinance and Sebamala Agricultural stores, Sebamala is using these social enterprises to change lives. Using Sebamala Foundation, a not for profit that aims at uplifting the quality of life in his constituency. Among the activities is an annual football tournament dubbed, “Sebamala Cup”.

Sebamala has been radical in ensuring service delivery where he is dedicated to monitoring government service delivery in schools and health centers. He is an anti-corruption activist.

Some of the civil engineering works done by Sebamala include; Kalamoja Region roads (State House Kangule) under the supervision of Engineer Sam Ssemakadde, Kyambogo lower Estate, Senior Staff College Kimaka under Zimwe Constructions and Masaka-Nyendo road.

“I designed it and it has never been refurbished since then. It is about 4km and whenever I am heading in my constituency, I look at it and gain more confidence in my work” Sebamala prides in his work.

He is now co-owning DDKI Services with Engineer Achilles Kiwanuka where he has constructed roads in Ssembabule, Matete and Masaka.

He story is one of resilience and focus and represents a number of young professionals who are struggling to find jobs in Uganda.