Profile! JOEL SSENYONYI: A virgin who went to four primary schools

By Francis Otucu

In 2017, Joel Basekezi Ssenyonyi, then a burgeoning 30-year old media personality, made news in gossip pages and in local tabloids when he claimed he was still a virgin. To many, his revelation, more so, before a Watoto Church congregation, was unbelievable.

“I’m a virgin, some people might think that maybe I do not have opportunities, or that my ‘things’ don’t function. Of opportunities, they are immense. In fact, I was about to report a police case. About the ‘things’ God blessed me with, they are working. However, just because they work, doesn’t mean I go all over putting them in every place,” he said.

He was to again make news when he joined opposition politicians in a demonstration against mobile money and social media taxes.

Then days ago, he featured in the media, announcing his resignation from NTV Uganda after five years and then, his unveiling as spokesperson for the People Power group.

WHO IS SSENYONYI?

Joel Ssenyonyi, 32, was born on December 20, 1986 at Mulago Hospital, to Joseph Basekezi Ssenyonyi and Nankunda Ssenyonyi.

His father was a stay-away dad, which makes Joel speak fondly about his mother who raised him in a rented house in Kyengera, on the outskirts of Kampala.

Ssenyonyi, being the first born, is currently taking care of his siblings and close friends say he is still single and not seeing anyone. They however add, that Ssenyonyi is thoughtful about marrying at 39.  His very close friends include NBS TV’s Raymond Mujuni, ex-FDC Party President Maj. Gen. (rtd) Gregory Mugisha Muntu and Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine.

EDUCATION

PRIMARY: Ssenyonyi attended Kazinda Memorial School from P1 to P5. He then went to Namirembe Infant Primary School, Bakuli, for two terms before joining Joy Primary School only to end up at Trinity Academy Primary School, Bukoto, where he sat for Primary Leaving Examination in 1999 at the age of 13.

SECONDARY: He joined St. Lawrence Citizens High School (Kabaka’s Lake Campus) for ‘O’ level in 2000, and went back for his ‘A’ levels in 2015 offering PEM/A.

UNIVERSITY: Ssenyonyi went to Makerere University for a Bachelor Degree in Statistics before doing Bachelor of Laws (LLB) at the same university.

WORK

2006: Ssenyonyi worked at Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) as a news anchor at the age of 19 during his senior six vacation. He also hosted political talk shows and in 2011, he quit UBC for gospel radio, Power FM where he hosted a political talk show program called “Fahrenheit” between 11am and 12.30pm, from Monday to Friday. In 2014, he joined NTV Uganda as a News anchor until recently when he resigned to concentrate on political activism.

PERSONAL LIFE

Ssenyonyi is a Christian who traces his ancestry to Nakasongola, and goes to Watoto Church (usually in Ntinda and Central) for religious service.

Ssenyonyi is also known to be smart, strict and disciplined/disciplinarian, inquisitive and obstinate, and that while still at UBC, he had a tiff with a workmate for stepping on his shoes.

His close friends say from childhood he wanted to be a lawyer and that he is ‘so careful’ in that he would do anything to stay out of trouble, while others say he is a go-getter.

Ssenyonyi reportedly listens a lot to Irene Namubiru’s Maama Nabulo, and other than reading, he watches a lot of international news mainly on CNN and Aljazeera. His friends say whereas he is not a movie person, he watches films occasionally on the recommendation of friends. Ssenyonyi believes that when you are the first born, you must be a leader “whether you like it or not.”

POLITICS

In 2011 he wanted to run for the Nakawa MP seat but opted to run for Youth MP (Central) on FDC ticket.

He lost the elections citing bribery and lack of funds on his side.

He has been at the forefront of the campaign against ‘Social Media Tax’ saying that he was driven onto the streets with the belief that journalists are ‘Ugandans first’ and that ‘what affects Ugandans affects journalists’.

He also took part in the “One million match protest in Kampala” led by controversial Dr. Stella Nyanzi over the kidnap and murder of women in Nansana and Entebbe towns. The peaceful demo attracted among others, Deborah R. Malac, U.S. Ambassador to Uganda, Stephanie Rivoal the immediate former French Ambassador to Uganda.

Ssenyonyi also closely relates with ex-premier, John Patrick Amama Mbabazi.

According to his friends, he plans to among others, improve on his media qualities and also join active politics in 2021.