Faruk Kirunda dares Ssemujju to fitness challenge with Museveni

The Deputy Press Secretary to the president, Faruk Kirunda, has challenged Kira Municipality MP, Ssemujju Nganda to a fitness challenge with President Museveni.

This follows Ssemujju's Tuesday comments where he questioned the President's mental and physical health to lead the country.

"When you have an 80-year-old who keeps making erratic decisions, I want to implore Parliament that we subject our President to periodical mental and physical tests," Ssemujju implored Parliament.

Responding to Ssemujju's sentiments, Kirunda took to X (formerly Twitter) to challenge the legislator into a fitness challenge with the President to determine who is mentally and physically better.

"Hon. Ssemujju enjoys taking jibes at H.E Kaguta Museveni but I challenge him write to the President formally for a fitness challenge with the Big Man," he wrote.

Giving reference to 2020, when Museveni trekked 195kms from Galamba to Birembo, Kirunda doubted Ssemujju could even cover half that distance.

"Last time, the President trekked 195kms from Galamba to Birembo. Can Ssemujju even do half of that at his age?" Kirunda questioned.

On January 4, 2020, President Museveni, alongside a group of National Resistance Army (NRA) veterans, civilians and journalists trekked 195 kilometers from Galamba in Wakiso District to Birembo in Kibale District.

At the time, Museveni explained that the long walk was meant to retrace the footsteps of the National Resistance Army (NRA) fighters during the bush war that brought the NRM to power.

Kirunda's comments came a day after Pakwach District Women MP, Jane Pacuto asked the leadership at Parliament to organise mandatory medical checkups for MPs, and have doctors come regularly to Parliament to check on them.

She argued that this would held reduce sudden deaths like the one experienced by former State Minister for Defence, Sarah Mateke, who died due to heart complications.

In his submissions, Ssemujju welcomed Pacuto's suggestion but said, not only MPs should be subjected to mandatory health checkups, but also the President.

Ssemujju, argued that there was need for Uganda’s Parliament to emulate the Democratic Party in the United States that asked President Biden not to contest in the November 2024 election on account of old age, and subject President Museveni to periodical medical checkups.

"To be a President, the Constitution says you must be mentally and physically fit. In the United States, President Joe Biden was asked not to participate in the election on account of his age, 79. When you have an 80-year-old who keeps making erratic decisions, I want to implore Parliament that we subject our President to periodical mental and physical tests,” the Kira Municipality legislator remarked.

However, Kirunda says Ssemujju and his group were using Museveni's age for political propaganda after failing in their attempt to prevent the lifting of the "age limit" from the constitution.

"These people promoted "tojikwatako" against lifting the "age limit" from the Constitution, claiming that the President was too old. Now they see him getting more fit and alert at 80 and have nothing to tell Ugandans, hence resorting to personal attacks and mockery," Kirunda said.

The Deputy Press Secretary to the President asked the MPs to stick to practical discussions on substantive issues affecting Ugandans rather than discussing the President's age.