Edward Ssekandi
Encyclopedia
Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi (born 19 January 1943), is a Uganda
n lawyer
and politician
. He is the current Vice President
of Uganda. He was appointed to that position on 24 May 2011. Prior to that, he served as the Speaker of Parliament
of Uganda
, a position he served in from 2001 until 2011. He is also the current Member of Parliament, representing "Bukoto County Central", a constituency he has continuously represented since 1996.
on January 19, 1943. He graduated with honors from the University of East Africa
with the degree of Bachelor of Laws
(LLB). He also holds the Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Center
in Kampala
, Uganda's capital and largest city.
From 1973 until 1978, he served as a lecturer
at the Uganda Law Development Center. Between 1978 and 1979, he served as the Acting Director of the Law Development Center. He was the lead counsel
on the Commission of Inquiry into Violations of Human Rights, between 1986 and 1993. He was a delegate
to the Constitutional Assembly
, which drafted the 1995 Ugandan constitution from 1994 until 1995.
In 1996, Edward Ssekandi was elected to the Ugandan Parliament, to represent Bukoto County Central, in Masaka District
, a position he was re-elected to in 2001 and 2006. He served as Deputy Speaker of the Ugandan Parliament between 1996 and 2001. He was elected to the position of Speaker
in 2001, a position he held until 2011. He was replaced as Speaker by Rebecca Kadaga
, the first female Speaker of Parliament in Uganda
's history, on 19 May 2011.
political party. He is reported to be a sports enthusiast.
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
n lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He is the current Vice President
Vice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
of Uganda. He was appointed to that position on 24 May 2011. Prior to that, he served as the Speaker of Parliament
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
of Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
, a position he served in from 2001 until 2011. He is also the current Member of Parliament, representing "Bukoto County Central", a constituency he has continuously represented since 1996.
Life and career
Ssekandi was born in Masaka DistrictMasaka District
Masaka District is a district in Central Uganda. Its main town is Masaka, whose estimated population in 2011 was 74,100.-Location:The district is bordered by Bukomansimbi District to the northwest, Kalungu District to the north, Kalangala District to the east and south, Rakai District to the...
on January 19, 1943. He graduated with honors from the University of East Africa
University of East Africa
The University of East Africa was established in 1963 and served Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The University was originally instituted as an independent external college of the University of London. In 1970 it was split into three independent universities which are now:*University of Nairobi...
with the degree of Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
(LLB). He also holds the Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Center
Law Development Center
The Law Development Centre , is an educational institution for higher learning that offers various legal courses, ranging from one month to one year.-Overview:...
in Kampala
Kampala
Kampala is the largest city and capital of Uganda. The city is divided into five boroughs that oversee local planning: Kampala Central Division, Kawempe Division, Makindye Division, Nakawa Division and Lubaga Division. The city is coterminous with Kampala District.-History: of Buganda, had chosen...
, Uganda's capital and largest city.
From 1973 until 1978, he served as a lecturer
Lecturer
Lecturer is an academic rank. In the United Kingdom, lecturer is a position at a university or similar institution, often held by academics in their early career stages, who lead research groups and supervise research students, as well as teach...
at the Uganda Law Development Center. Between 1978 and 1979, he served as the Acting Director of the Law Development Center. He was the lead counsel
Counsel
A counsel or a counselor gives advice, more particularly in legal matters.-U.K. and Ireland:The legal system in England uses the term counsel as an approximate synonym for a barrister-at-law, and may apply it to mean either a single person who pleads a cause, or collectively, the body of barristers...
on the Commission of Inquiry into Violations of Human Rights, between 1986 and 1993. He was a delegate
Delegate
A delegate is a person who speaks or acts on behalf of an organization at a meeting or conference between organizations of the same level A delegate is a person who speaks or acts on behalf of an organization (e.g., a government, a charity, an NGO, or a trade union) at a meeting or conference...
to the Constitutional Assembly
Constitutional Assembly
The Constitutional Assembly was a body elected in 1955 to draw up a permanent constitution for the Republic of Indonesia. It sat between November 10, 1956 and July 2, 1959...
, which drafted the 1995 Ugandan constitution from 1994 until 1995.
In 1996, Edward Ssekandi was elected to the Ugandan Parliament, to represent Bukoto County Central, in Masaka District
Masaka District
Masaka District is a district in Central Uganda. Its main town is Masaka, whose estimated population in 2011 was 74,100.-Location:The district is bordered by Bukomansimbi District to the northwest, Kalungu District to the north, Kalangala District to the east and south, Rakai District to the...
, a position he was re-elected to in 2001 and 2006. He served as Deputy Speaker of the Ugandan Parliament between 1996 and 2001. He was elected to the position of Speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
in 2001, a position he held until 2011. He was replaced as Speaker by Rebecca Kadaga
Rebecca Kadaga
Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga is a Ugandan lawyer and politician. She is the current Speaker of the Ugandan Parliament. She was elected to that position on Thursday 19 May 2011. She is the first female to be elected Speaker in the history of Parliament in Uganda. She succeeds Edward Ssekandi, who served...
, the first female Speaker of Parliament in Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
's history, on 19 May 2011.
Personal details
He is married. He belongs to the National Resistance MovementNational Resistance Movement
The National Resistance Movement , commonly referred to as the Movement, is a political organization in Uganda.Until a referendum in 2005, Uganda held elections on a non-party basis. The NRM dominates parliament, however, and is expected to continue to do so. The presidential elections of 12 March...
political party. He is reported to be a sports enthusiast.