A section of opposition MPs has criticized their Leader of Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi, for prioritizing politics over parliamentary programs.
The criticism comes as Parliament is currently sitting in Gulu, where plenary sessions are scheduled to take place from August 28 to 29, 2024.
MP Kimaanya Kabonera, Masaka city Abed Bwanika, accused Ssenyonyi of failing to differentiate between work and school politics.
Bwanika dismissed Ssenyonyi’s allegations that regional parliaments are a waste of taxpayers’ money, arguing that Ssenyonyi himself has been guilty of wasteful expenditure on foreign trips.
Bwanika revealed that Ssenyonyi was allocated 114 million shillings for the East African Game trips to Kigali, Arusha, and South Sudan, each costing 38m and questioned the LOP’s priorities.
He advised LOP Ssenyonyi to focus on developing programs for Ugandans rather than politicking.
MPs, including Njeru Municipality MP Jimmy Lwang and Buyikwe south MP Michael Lulume Bayiga, Kimanya Kabonera MP Obeid Bwanika and others have also advised Ssenyonyi to mature in politics and focus on constructive engagement.
They argued that not every parliamentary or government program needs to be opposed, and that the recent committee sessions in Gulu have yielded valuable insights that will be deliberated on in the upcoming plenary sessions.
The criticism from within the opposition ranks suggests that Ssenyonyi’s leadership style is not universally accepted, and that some MPs are seeking a more collaborative approach to parliamentary business.
