For residents of Namuyenje Village, Namuyenje Parish in Nakisunga Sub-county, Mukono District, Robert Maseruka has always been an ordinary, jolly youth they watched grow up.
Despite his new political status, he continues to relate freely with people of all walks of life, a trait many say explains how he defeated older and more established contenders.
Maseruka believes strongly in dreaming big and nurturing those dreams into reality. Even when he lacked the financial muscle to run a conventional campaign, he remained confident, choosing instead to ‘sell’ his political manifesto to the people of Mukono.
When he first announced his intention to contest for the Mukono South Constituency parliamentary seat, many of his peers did not take him seriously.
‘When I started moving around lobbying for votes at the grassroots level (kakuyege), some people began to believe in me. But the big question was always, ‘Young man, will you pull through against the incumbent MP Fred Kayondo, who has a lot of money?’ I told them my confidence and track record would prevail over money, and indeed it did,’ Maseruka says.
At just 25 years old, Maseruka, a member of the Opposition National Unity Platform (NUP), is set to become the youngest legislator in Uganda’s 12th Parliament. He won the January 15 parliamentary race with 19,621 votes, defeating 10 other candidates, including incumbent MP Fred Kayondo of the Democratic Party, who garnered about 11,000 votes. What motivated his bid? Maseruka says poor living standards in Mukono South, coupled with his personal life experiences, inspired him to contest.
‘The life we are living is for hustlers, it’s survival for the fittest. It has been like this since I was born, and there has been little change. I felt this was the right time to offer myself to turn things around,’ he says.
He adds that his tenure as guild president at Makerere University strengthened his political voice and resolve. Fresh from university, Maseruka faced the daunting task of mobilising campaign resources in an environment where voters often expect financial handouts. He says honesty worked in his favour.
‘I openly told voters that I was financially incapacitated but had brilliant ideas that could impact their lives. Surprisingly, they accepted this narrative,’ he says.
Good Samaritans stepped in to support his campaign modestly.
‘Some would give me Shs1m or Shs500,000 for fuel. Members of Parliament also supported me in different ways. My team would assemble at a nearby playing field, fuel a few motorcycles, and hit the campaign trail. After a day’s work, we would return home and share a meal,’ he recounts.
Mukono South is largely peri-urban, and Maseruka admits convincing elderly voters was one of his biggest challenges. ‘We told them that if age alone delivered services, Uganda would look like Dubai by now. It’s not about age, it’s about commitment,’ he says. He highlighted key issues such as unemployment, school dropout rates, a struggling health system, and poor road infrastructure. Gradually, voters embraced his message. He pledges inclusive leadership regardless of age, gender, tribe, or political affiliation.
Although he declines to name specific politicians he admires, Maseruka says his goal is to build a political legacy that will stand the test of time.
‘I do not want people to regret voting for me. They can blame me for anything except keeping silent on issues that affect them. I want to be among the legislators who truly speak for the people,’ he says.
He paints a grim picture of conditions in Mukono South: ‘Out of 120,000 households, only 20,000 have permanent houses. On Koome Island, three toilets serve over 30,000 people. Mothers give birth in boats while being transported to the mainland. My role as MP will be to amplify these voices and push for effective service delivery.’
Who is Robert Maseruka?
Born on February 24, 2000, Robert Maseruka is the third child in a family of five born to Mr Simon Setuba and Ms Joselyn Naffuka of Nakisunga, Mukono District. He attended Kireka Hill Infant School for primary education, Bugema Adventist Secondary School, and White Star Bright Secondary School in Mukono. Following the Covid-19 pandemic, he enrolled at Makerere University in 2020, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Communication. He served as the 89th Makerere Guild President between 2023 and 2024. After graduation, Maseruka became the NUP district secretary for Mukono and secured the party ticket to contest for the Mukono South parliamentary seat.
Maseruka says leadership has been part of his life since childhood.
‘I was a class representative until Primary Five, then a disciplinary prefect. In Primary Seven, I became head prefect and remained a prefect throughout my secondary education,’ he says. Maseruka is currently single but says he hopes to find a partner who understands his vision as a politician.