Sserunkuuma John Bosco popularly known by his nickname Kaana Ka Mbaata is the LC5 Councillor for Nansana West (2021–2026), a passionate human rights activist, former Guild President at MIT East Africa, journalist, Nansana Empya Advocate, and an advocate in training.
Despite being detained in Kitalya Mini-Max Prison during the 2021 elections, Bosco won the Nansana West LC5 Councillor seat running on the National Unity Platform ticket garnering 2,343 votes to defeat his closest rival’s 480 showing immense public trust.
A fearless voice, Kaana Ka Mbaata has led numerous protests and campaigns:
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Advocated against torture of Ugandan workers abroad and mobilized for stranded citizens.
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Organized protest campaigns against suppression of boda-boda operations during COVID lockdowns.
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Championed victims of torture, founding or working with the Uganda Torture Survivors Movement.
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Criticized rights violations by security agencies and publicly addressed issues at the Uganda Human Rights Commission.
He was also violently abducted in April 2023 in connection to his activism ahead of planned economic shoutdowns beaten and detained in Kampala Central Police Station, highlighting the risks he takes.
Born in 1993 in Mityana, Sserunkuuma John Bosco became Guild President while pursuing a Diploma in Journalism & Mass Communication at Makerere Institute of Technology East Africa. His studies were interrupted by COVID-19, but his leadership was unwavering even during abduction in December 2020 and he is also on track to become a lawyer, translating his journalistic and activist insights into legal empowerment.
On the night of December 2, 2020, Bosco was forcibly abducted from his Nansana home by men in military-style uniforms and tortured before being grounded by military intelligence, then bound to the General Court Martial for wearing a red beret in solidarity with NUP supporters. Upon his release in late 2021, Bosco was sworn in at a Wakiso District Council meeting an event interrupted by cheering NUP supporters, forcing a pause to proceedings a vivid example of his resilience and local popularity.
Bosco’s mission is clear:
“Address social and economic inequalities, and secure justice for aspirant Ugandans,”
As a Lawyer-in-the-Making, he is well positioned to use legal frameworks to shield citizens from abuses and to fight for transparency, rights, and good governance.
Today, Sserunkuuma continues to serve his constituents, balancing his roles as a councillor, legal student, journalist, and activist. He speaks out on platforms across Uganda and is quickly becoming a national figure in the fight for democracy, human dignity, and political accountability. His story is a reminder that even when systems try to silence you, truth and courage will always speak louder.
