In a contentious turn of events, the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Mathias Mpuuga, delivered a searing rebuke to the Minister of ICT and National Guidance, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi.
Mpuuga’s sharp words struck at the very core of the Minister’s competence, urging him to first demonstrate leadership within his own family before engaging in political matters of the opposition.
This vehement confrontation unfolded during a press conference held on Thursday within the Parliament premises. Mpuuga, in no uncertain terms, expressed his belief that government leaders, like Minister Baryomunsi, were displaying a lack of seriousness and empathy towards the concerns of the Ugandans kidnapped and murdered by the state security agents.
It is important to note that earlier in the week, Minister Baryomunsi when questioned by journalists, described the Opposition’s walkouts from parliamentary sessions as mere theatrical displays that would not deter or disrupt any government initiatives.
However, these remarks led Mpuuga to question the Minister’s ability to lead not just the nation but also his own family. He openly wondered whether the Minister possessed the aptitude to guide his own family with such an attitude and an apparent lack of awareness regarding issues that significantly impact the lives of Ugandans.
Mpuuga remarked, “I wonder if he is able to guide his own family with that kind of attitude and seemingly flat knowledge of what matters to our people. He thinks what we are doing is drama when, as a Government Spokesperson, he isn’t able to explain whether the Government was actually able to dispense justice, account for, and compensate the victims of murder. The Minister’s continued ridicule of us while making these demands speaks to the attitude of this regime that he is serving.”
Mpuuga continued to defend the Opposition’s decision to abstain from plenary sittings, asserting that no amount of legislation could make amends for the deaths and abductions suffered by the families of the missing individuals.
He stated, “There is no amount of legislation that can atone for murders and disappearances. Whether we legislate and pass bills on a daily basis, if the targeted beneficiaries of these legislations are being mistreated by the government, and some of them are being killed, then our legislative efforts become hollow, and we can never claim to be serious legislators.”
Last Thursday, members of the Opposition, led by Mpuuga, staged a walkout from Parliament and informed the Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa, who was presiding over the session, that they would continue to boycott plenary sessions until the government provided an explanation regarding the whereabouts of the missing Ugandans who were believed to supporters of the opposition. As a result, they did not attend a plenary session on Wednesday, and they have confirmed that their protest is ongoing.
Deputy Speaker Tayebwa expressed his disappointment with the Opposition’s approach, emphasizing that an underrepresented House during parliamentary sessions significantly affects the quality and balance of discussions held within the Parliament.
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