Please introduce yourself.
I’m Mbidde Dennis Ssebugwawo, 45 years old and I hold a bachelor’s degree in Commerce, postgraduate diplomas in Marketing and Sales Management, Investment Planning Management, Business Management and Computer Business Application. I hold professional membership in the Central Institute of Management Ambala City, India.
Whoa! That is quite the resumé!
Hahaha well, I started from Namilyango Junior School, then joined Mugwanya Preparatory School Kabojja, then concluded my primary education at St Savio Kisubi primary school.
I joined St Henry’s College Kitovu in 1988 for senior one, but later moved to St Mary’s College Kisubi for O-level and A-level, after which I went to Barkatullah Vishwavidyalaya, Bhopal University, India for a bachelor’s degree of Commerce. At nearly the same time I joined Central Institute of Management Ambala City, India [for several postgraduate diplomas].
Your career profile must be rich!
My career started at Uganda Television, currently Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) in 2000 as a market analyst. I left but rejoined it later in 2015 to 2016 as chief commercial officer.
I joined Uganda Telecom in 2001-2005 as corporate sales manager, then later was employed in National Housing and Construction Company Ltd as a sales and marketing manager.
When my contract ended, I joined Gateway Broadcasting (GTV) as a football consultant, after which I was selected by National Council of Sports in 2013 to 2014 as board member and also founded the Corporate League in 2013 and to date I am a chairman, board of directors.
You have had a successful career…
I have a successful career span of 20 years; don’t forget I am [also] a politician [he contested for the Lubaga South parliamentary seat, but lost to Aloysius Mukasa.]
Do you have a family?
Yes I have one lovely, beautiful wife and four amazing children.
You are quite the people person; but do you have a best friend?
Yes, out of many, there is that person that understands you like a brother or sister and that person is Herbert Mukooza, a sales and marketing professional.
How did you meet?
We met at Uganda Telecom in 2001. Since we were both doing sales, we became friends. Though we are best friends, we have contradictory personalities; he is an introvert and I am an extrovert. Mike Kironde is my friend as well.
We now know you are a Villa fan; who is your best local coach, though?
Mike Mutebi.
And best club international?
Arsenal, of course. No doubt. [And my best coach is Pep Guardiola, season in, season out.]
Who is your best player locally?
Well, they are many, but Allan Okello has been outstanding.
And internationally?
If you know football, then you would understand the world best player is Lionel Messi.
How do you spend your weekend?
Haa! As an old man, I go to the beach to relax a bit, because I love water and also at times hang out with my friends, have a bottle of beer… I also distribute my weekends in such a way that some weekends I spend with my family, take some responsibilities, for example working on the farm.
What is your opinion about Fufa president Moses Magogo?
To me, he is a modern football administrator who got the federation in a local state and has made achievements, turning it into a modern one; and Magogo will make Ugandan football federation far better than other African countries’ football federations.
He is ambitious and developmental; I was his deputy from 2013 to 2017 but he has implemented almost all the ideas he used to tell us. It is only taking Uganda Cranes to the World Cup that is remaining.
What is your best achievement in football management?
It was SuperSport Bell and Ecobank sponsorship for the Super League, worth $7bn for five years.
And what was your slump?
It is still about the SuperSport Bell and Ecobank sponsorship, where we fought with Fufa and the deal collapsed.
That Villa presidency race… what made you withdraw?
Come on, man! As soon as I heard that my elder Omar Mandela has expressed interest in the seat, I had to join him and back him, because of his seniority [opposition MP Medard Sseggona had thrown his hat in the ring to contest against Mbidde, but the big guns at Villa and beyond would not hear of it. That period, football fans learnt just how political the game was.]
Would you call yourself a political failure?
There’s nothing like a political failure, because one registers success by the time one makes it to the ballot. My loss in Lubaga South was an experience to learn from, but I will revise my mistakes and come back stronger in 2026.
Good luck! So, who is your favourite politician?
Everyone knows that it is President Yoweri Tibuhaburwa Kaguta Museveni.
Do you have a worst politician as well?
I have two; Honorable Betty Nambooze and Honorable Allan Sewanyana.
Moving on, what were your regrets in school?
The time I was stripped of my house prefectship in my S6 for having bullied the new form-five students that had just joined the school.
Do you have a favourite local musician?
It is the late Philly Bongoley Lutaaya. I will forever listen to his great music non-stop.
What about comedian?
Zizinga is my all-time favourite, because the man is natural and too creative.