Ugandan political refugee wins UW Bothell alumni award

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, June 14, 2017

A political refugee from Uganda who graduated from the University of Washington Bothell and the UW School of Law is the recipient of the 2017 UW Bothell Distinguished Alumni Award.

Stephen Ssemaala was honored for distinguished professional achievements and outstanding community service.

After earning his law degree in 2006, Ssemaala became an assistant state attorney general, and since 2012 has been a contracts counsel for the state Department of Social and Health Services in Olympia.

Since 2011, Ssemaala also has been an adjunct instructor at South Puget Sound Community College where he teaches the American political system.

He also started the KamuKamu Learning Foundation to improve schools and provide resources to children in Uganda.

Ssemaala, a Tumwater resident, ran in 2015 for the city council. Although he lost, Ssemaala said he will try again.