On a quiet morning in Kibinge Sub-county, the sound of clucking poultry and rustling banana leaves fills the air on a sprawling farm in Budda village.
At the centre of it all is Hassan Mukiibi Sserunjoji, sleeves rolled up and gumboots on, moving from one enterprise to another with the ease of a man who knows the soil as well as he knows politics.
This farm is more than a livelihood; it is the foundation of his political journey. Sserunjoji, the newly elected Member of Parliament for Bukomansimbi South, embodies a leadership style rooted in productivity, self-reliance, and lived experience.
Born to the late Hajji Kasim Mukiibi and Aisha Namukasa, Sserunjoji grew up in rural Uganda, where survival often depends on the land. He began his education at Budda Church of Uganda Primary School, later attending St Charles Lwanga Primary School Kyabakuza and Kawempe Muslim Secondary School.
He went on to study law at Makerere University and earned a degree in Global Diplomacy in the United Kingdom.
Despite his academic achievements, Sserunjoji never lost touch with his roots. Long before entering politics, he had built over 50 acres of productive farmland, cultivating coffee, bananas, and livestock, including poultry, goats, and rabbits.
His poultry project, in particular, has become a reliable income source, with high-quality eggs fetching competitive market prices.
“Farming is not just about survival anymore; it is a business,” he says, encouraging residents to embrace mixed farming as a strategy for stable income. For many in Bukomansimbi, his farm serves as a practical learning center.
In the recent elections, Sserunjoji stunned many by defeating candidates from Uganda’s dominant political parties—the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and the National Unity Platform (NUP)—to win the Bukomansimbi South seat as an independent.
His victory was built on a message of economic empowerment and action rather than handouts or promises, resonating deeply with voters who saw their own struggles reflected in his journey.
Sserunjoji is openly critical of how politics is often conducted. He opposes abusive language, intimidation, and divisive rhetoric during campaigns, condemning the use of religion and identity to manipulate voters.
He advocates for stricter laws to regulate campaign conduct and promote issue-based politics.
“Leadership should not be about insulting others or dividing people. It should be about solutions,” he says.
For Sserunjoji, politics complements farming rather than replacing it. His decision to enter leadership stems from a desire to help communities escape poverty using practical methods that have worked in his own life.
He believes leaders who are economically independent are better positioned to serve the public without self-interest.
“Before you lead people, you should be able to stand on your own,” he advises aspiring politicians.
Back on his farm, workers go about their duties as Sserunjoji inspects his enterprises, capturing the essence of his philosophy: leadership begins with action.
In a region still grappling with poverty and unemployment, his story offers a narrative of success built from the ground up.
As he prepares to take his seat in Parliament, expectations are high. But for many in Bukomansimbi, one thing is already clear: their MP is not just a politician. He is a farmer who made it—and is determined to take others with him.
