Hon. Abed Bwanika, the MP for Kimaanya-Kabonero, has sharply criticized the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Joe Ssenyonyi, for his call to boycott the upcoming parliamentary sittings in Gulu City. Bwanika, who has been vocal in his support for the relocation of Parliament to the Northern Uganda region, questioned Ssenyonyi’s leadership and decision-making.
In his remarks, Bwanika stated that Ssenyonyi’s decision to oppose the Gulu sittings shows a lack of understanding of his role as Leader of the Opposition. He argued that the Opposition should be using this opportunity to engage with and win over the people of Northern Uganda, a region that did not largely support the National Unity Platform (NUP) in the 2021 general elections. Instead, Ssenyonyi has chosen to resist the move simply because it is spearheaded by Speaker Anita Among, which Bwanika described as misguided.
Bwanika further pointed out the inconsistency in Ssenyonyi’s stance by highlighting his frequent participation in the East African Parliamentary Games. He noted that these games, which also cost the government significant sums of money (approximately 5 billion shillings), do not offer the same direct benefits to the people as the regional parliamentary sittings would. According to Bwanika, if Ssenyonyi sees no issue in attending the games, where the same amount of money is spent, it is illogical for him to now oppose parliamentary activities that are more focused on addressing the needs of Ugandans.
Hon. Bwanika reaffirmed his commitment to attending the Gulu sittings, emphasizing the importance of Parliament engaging directly with all regions of the country. He urged the Opposition to rethink its approach, arguing that the boycott would be a missed opportunity to connect with Northern Uganda and address the pressing issues facing the region.
