Edward Ssekandi

Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi (born 19 January 1943) is a Ugandan politician and lawyer who served as the eighth vice president of Uganda from 24 May 2011 to 21 June 2021. Prior to that, he served as the Speaker of Parliament from 2001 to 2011. He served as Member of Parliament for Bukoto County Central constituency from 1996 to 2021.

Life and career
Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi was born on 19th January, 1943 to Virgo and Alex Kiwanuka at Bulegeya, a village in Kyanamukaaka Subcounty in Masaka District.

A graduate of St. Mary’s College Kisubi, he obtained a bachelor’s degree in Law from the University of East Africa in Dar es Salaam and a diploma in legal practice from the Law Development Centre, Kampala..

Beginning his career in 1969 as a State Attorney for the Government of Uganda, Ssekandi later transitioned into academia, lecturing at the Law Development Centre in Kampala and eventually becoming the Principal Lecturer and Head of the Department of Law at Makerere University. He was also enrolled as an advocate of The High Court of Uganda in 1970.

In 1974, Ssekandi assumed the role of Head of Post Graduate Bar Course and later became the Acting Director at the Law Development Centre in 1978. Subsequently, he established his law firm, Ssekandi and Company Advocates.

Prior to his entry into politics, Ssekandi served as Chancellor of Namirembe Diocese from 1982 to 1985 and acted as Lead Counsel for the Commission of Inquiry into Violations of Human Rights in Uganda from 1986 to 1993. He also held positions such as Vice Chairman of the Law Council Disciplinary Committee from 1986 to 1992.

In 1994, Ssekandi represented Bukoto central as a delegate in the Uganda Constituent Assembly, contributing to the drafting of the 1995 Uganda Constitution.

Entering active politics in 1996, he successfully contested for the Bukoto central seat in Parliament, where he served as Chairperson of the Rules, Privileges, and Disciplinary Committee. He later chaired the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee until 1998.

In September 1998, Ssekandi was elected Deputy Speaker of the 6th Parliament, a position he held until July 2000. He then served as Speaker of the 7th Parliament until 2006 after being re-elected as the member of Parliament for Bukoto central.

Re-elected as Speaker of the 8th Parliament in 2006, Ssekandi also served as Chairperson of the African Parliamentary Union (APU) and President of the PUIC/OIC Union of Parliaments of Islamic Countries until 2011.

He was replaced as Speaker by Rebecca Kadaga, the first female Speaker of Parliament in Uganda's history, on 19 May 2011.

Personal details
Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi is married to Margaret Ssekandi.

He belongs to the National Resistance Movement political party. He is reported to be a sports enthusiast.