Robert Maseruka, youngest MP elect talks aspirations in politics, love

At just 25 years old, Robert Maseruka has achieved what many veteran politicians spend decades pursuing. 

Last week, the resident of Nakisunga in Mukono District defeated the incumbent, Fred Kayondo, and nine other seasoned contestants to become the Member of Parliament-elect for Mukono South. 

The youthful politician has become a symbol of hope and ambition for many, particularly young people who see their own dreams reflected in his journey.

In his home town, Maseruka is revered and often referred to as "Small body, big brain.

While his parents, Simon Ssettuba and Joseline Nanfuka, never dipped their toes into the murky waters of politics, Maseruka’s trajectory seems almost predestined. 

His leadership journey began in Kindergarten where he served as class monitor—a role he held every year until the end of primary school. 

At Makerere University, he served as class president in his first year, was elected to the Guild Representative Council in his second year, and went on to become the 89th Makerere University Guild President in 2023. He later graduated with a degree in journalism.

After serving as the Secretary of the National Unity Platform in Mukono, Maseruka identified a void in his home constituency that only fresh representation could fill.

Maseruka, currently lives alone in his unfinished home. He says he has no lover and is childless.

Asked in an interview with NTV about the prospects of finding a partner, he said, “I just finished school. How could I go having children as a student? Now that school is over and some of our aspirations are already in motion, with God on our side, marriage and love will come in the near future.”

Regarding the kind of woman he hopes for he said, “I want, the qualifications have just been bumped up now. I want a woman who, even when I am not around, can serve as a representative of the people of this constituency.”

Addressing the perennial question of campaign financing , Maseruka insists that faith in ideas mattered more than financial muscle. 

“Dreams are not driven by money,” he says, explaining that ordinary people who believed in his vision came forward to support him, sometimes spontaneously. 

Attempts by opponents to undermine him because of his age, he adds, only strengthened his resolve. 

Drawing parallels with Uganda’s history, he notes that many leaders, including President Yoweri Museveni, took on national responsibilities in their youth.

“President Yoweri Museveni served as a Minister in his late 20s. When he went to the bush at 30 years of age he was the oldest of his group; the likes of Otafiire, Mugisha Muntu, Dr Besigye were all younger than him. We have to put on the skin that they had on when they went to the bush.”

Despite his high-profile victory, the MP-elect remains grounded in his faith and community. 

A devout Adventist, he is a fixture in church every Saturday and prefers being "among the people" rather than behind a desk.