Sira Nsibirwa Bugembe

Birth: 1922, Bugerere, Uganda
Death: 30 October 1968
Mother: Erina Nankya Nsibirwa
Father: Martin Luther (Mantene) Nsibirwa

Wife: Mary Nakito

Early Life and Education

Sira was born into the distinguished household of Katikkiro Martin Luther Nsibirwa in Bugerere. His first name, Sira, was given in honour of his maternal uncle Sira Mukade, a brother to his mother. The name Mukade distinguished the older uncle from the younger nephew who inherited his name.

He grew up in a home defined by discipline, public service, and high expectations.

He attended King’s College Budo, where he belonged to England House. As recounted in My Life is But a Weaving by his sister Rhoda (Senga Rhoda), she believes she may never have met her husband, William Kalema, had William not been close to her brothers Sira and Kiwana—who would later become his brothers-in-law. Sira and William, both in England House, were close friends and housemates. Sira was remembered as a confident and lively young man and is said to have been a childhood friend of Sir Edward Mutesa, the future Kabaka of Buganda.

Family memories from Taata Semu also portray Sira as the only child bold enough to speak candidly to their father, remaining undeterred by the Katikkiro’s famously stern nature.

Service in the Second World War

On his father’s recommendation, Sira joined the Ugandan forces serving under the British Protectorate during the Second World War. When authorities hesitated to assign him to the most dangerous fronts, his father personally selected Burma, one of the most intense theatres of the war.

Although much of his service remains under investigation, his grandson Luther (Luza) Lugolobi remembers a metal suitcase kept by Sira’s widow, Mary, containing his uniform and wartime memorabilia.

Career at Kawanda, Bombo, and Professional Farming

After the war, Sira worked at the Kawanda Research Centre, where he met Mary, his future wife. He later served in administrative roles at Bombo Barracks before leaving government service—at Mary’s encouragement—to pursue agriculture.

Back in Bugerere, he applied his Kawanda experience to become a respected professional farmer, managing:

• Extensive matoke plantations in Kirindi
• Large coffee and cocoa fields in the Mindi area of Kasawo

He also operated a coffee-hulling machine (ekyuuma kye mwaanyi), renowned for rejecting poorly prepared beans. His insistence on quality earned him great respect among both farmers and buyers.

Character, Humour, and Compassion

Sira was hardworking, disciplined, and warm-hearted. His humour and playful teasing endeared him to his siblings. He and his brother Kiwana were inseparable, filling family gatherings with endless stories. At King’s College Budo, when classmates teased them for coming from Bugerere, they jokingly claimed to be Banyala, engaging in spirited “fake Lunyala” conversations.

He is fondly remembered for:

• His stylish Morris “Kabaawo” (Morris Traveller) with wooden paneling
• His treasured Peugeot
• His military-precision bathing routine
• Family jokes from his sister Eseza about his unusually small size 5 shoes

Beyond humour, Sira was deeply compassionate. When his sister Janet faced hardships in Tanzania, he and Kiwana travelled to bring her and her children home—one of the many enduring examples of his generosity.

It is therefore no surprise that when Sira passed away, Kiwana took custody of two of his children—Sam Sendagire and Peter Gita—while Dr. Semu took custody of Sarah Nambwayo. Their support reflected the strong bonds Sira had fostered within the family.

Sira later helped lead a family fundraiser to reclaim the ancestral estate of Namakomo, where he became the first of his siblings to be buried.

His devotion to his siblings was unwavering. After his sister Senga Juliet Lutalo lost her husband, he visited her weekly, bringing food and ensuring her well-being.

He is also remembered for giving away his sister Rhoda in marriage to his close friend William Kalema. Rhoda later joked that she never “reported her husband” to Sira, knowing he would almost certainly side with William.

Later Years and Sekajja’s Illness

In his later years, when his eldest son Sekajja fell seriously ill at Mulago Hospital, Sira’s siblings rallied around him—just as he had always done for them. They often recalled his generosity, including the time he sold part of his land to pay school fees for his siblings.

In the same spirit of family solidarity, his sisters Janet and Gladys reached out to their niece Sarah Nambwayo, who helped with the medical expenses. Meanwhile, Senga Rhoda purchased a mattress for the caretaker—small but meaningful gestures that reflected the strong bonds Sira had nurtured throughout his life.

Gratitude and Acknowledgments

With profound gratitude, the family acknowledges the invaluable, previously undocumented information shared by his sister Eseza Kironde, who was exceptionally close to him. Her children recall that she wore his shirt for months after his passing. Much of the narrative above comes from her vivid recollections, which she entrusted to Sira’s grandson Luther (Luza) Lugolobi, son of Stephen Sekajja, whom she lovingly raised when Sekajja did not mature to her expectations.

Many photographs of Sira have unfortunately been misplaced, but the family continues to search for them and will preserve and share them whenever they become available.

His Children

Sira was the father of eight children:

1. Stephen Sekajja – eldest son and heir
2. Sam Sendagire
3. Paul Daniel Seruwagi
4. Wasswa Paul
5. Kizza Gertrude
6. Sarah Nambwayo
7. William Lwetute
8. Peter Gita

Though many were young at the time of his passing, they grew up with stories that preserved his values, humour, and legacy.

Legacy

Sira Bugembe Nsibirwa is remembered as:

• A disciplined and principled leader
• A loving and humorous brother
• A compassionate protector of his family
• A wartime serviceman
• A pioneering agricultural entrepreneur
• A respected community figure in Bugerere and Kasawo

His life remains a proud and enduring chapter in the Nsibirwa family history.