When they died in 1990, he blamed their promiscuity and feared that his lifestyle would also lead to his death via AIDS thus, he decided to take action. Ssempa sat by their beds as they grew sicker. In 1988, Ssempa was admitted to Makerere University.ĭuring his time at the University, both Ssempa's brother and sister contracted HIV. During his teenage years he became a celebrity in East Africa as the national break dancing champion. He then went to Rubaga Boys' Secondary School, before he completed his A level at Namilyango College. Ssempa went to Kimanya Primary School in Masaka and St. His mother was a teacher and he changed schools often as a child. Martin Ssempa was born in Naluzaale of Uganda's Masaka District in 1968 to a single mother.