MPs from Acholi, Lango, and Karamoja have accused the Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Joel Ssenyonyi and his shadow cabinet, of being shallow in analysis, insensitive and childish.
This is after he announced a boycott of parliamentary regional sittings, starting with Gulu citing wastage of taxpayers’ money.
The Legislator for Kilak North in Amuru District, Anthony Akol, notes that the region has been ignored for long and so the meeting will give due attention to specific issues there.
“We are the biggest contributors of poverty in this country and we are saying this should be the opportunity for us to address the issues of poverty that we are talking about and many other issues including roads, education and health,” Akol says
“We are really shocked to hear the Leader of Opposition who should be supporting this initiative, and who sits in the Commission of Parliament of Uganda oppose it. This issue was announced when there was a State of the Nation address and we wonder why is he coming at this time to say that it is useless and a waste of taxpayers’ money as if he doesn’t read the budget of the government of Uganda,” adds the legislator.
Ojara Mapenduzi, representing Gulu West (Bardege-Layibi Division) says, “The LOP is not only misinforming the population but I think his intention is to sabotage the regional meetings because he knows that this issue was planned and budgeted for and won’t attract or draw any other money from any vote except what was planned for.”
“I am not sure whether he takes time to scrutinize the budget and his allegation that it takes away money for committees is false because as chair and member of most committees, each receives its budget for each quarter and that determines the activity that they will have,” remarks Mapenduzi.
According to Judith Alyek, Woman Representative (Kole District), “I want to tell the leader of opposition that anything concerning Northern Uganda as we have been interacting on the floor of parliament has been brought down and this is unfortunate for a man who is supposed to be exemplary, in the way he is doing his things, but the good is that not everyone in opposition is with him.”
“His boycott and his team will not prevent us from traversing this country to see how to ensure regional balance and equitable development and opportunities regionally. If he is jealous, let him come openly to tell us that he is jealous of Northern Uganda. I have never seen this kind of Leader of Opposition who really defies everything, even a small thing which common sense can teach him. Does he have commonsense?