Paul Kawanga Ssemogerere (11 February 1932 – 18 November 2022) was a Ugandan politician born on 11 February 1932 in Bumangi at Bumangi Catholic Mission in Ssese Islands, Kalangala District to Joseph Bagenda Kapeere a fisherman and Maria Lwiza Namwendero a home maker. He was the Leader of the Opposition of Uganda from 1980 to 1985 and the Leader of the Democratic Party for 25 years. He was a key figure in Ugandan politics until his retirement in 2005. In 1940, Paul Kawanga Ssemwogerere began his formal education at St John's Boys Boarding primary school. He later joined St Henry's College Kitovu's primary section before it was abolished. Paul Kawanga Ssemwogerere then joined Kisubi Boys where he completed his Primary Leaving Certificate in1946. After his primary education, he joined St. Mary's College Kisubi in 1946 for his secondary education. While at Makerere University, he participated in the US student exchange programme at Allegheny, Meadville, pa. He studied the Politics and Government Program at Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania. As a result of Political hunt down in Uganda at the time, he was admitted as a refugee in Baltimore in 1972. While there, he quickly reconnected with his former Professors at Allegheny, Prof. Giles and Prof. Merrick. They hired him part time as a tutor and encouraged him to enroll in school again. Following the 1971 coup, Ssemogerere was in exile until 1979, when he returned as Minister of Labour. In response to Okeny Atwoma's unsuccessful challenge, Atwoma established the Nationalist Liberal Party alongside former minister Anthony Ochaya, Cuthbert Joseph Obwangor, and Francis Bwenge.
Ssemogerere was a Presidential Candidate in the disputed 1980 General elections which were won by Milton Obote's Uganda People's Congress. Ssemogerere then became the leader of the parliamentary opposition from 1981 to 1985.
Personal life and death
Ssemogerere was married to Germina Namatovu Ssemogerere, a retired professor of economics at Makerere University and Chairperson Wakiso District Service Commission (2016–2025). Their children include Grace Nabatanzi (1963–2011), who married Gerald Ssendaula; Karoli Lwanga Ssemogerere, an American-trained lawyer; now a Judge of the High Court of Uganda, Resident Judge and Head Circuit Kabale; Anna Namakula, a public policy analyst with the Foundation for African Development, Immaculate Kibuuka, a fashion designer; and Paul Semakula (1983–2022) a former ICT Consultant.