Hon. Mathias Mpuuga, the Leader of Opposition in Parliament, has denounced the recent directives issued by Speaker Anita Among, labeling them as a diversion from crucial parliamentary matters. This response comes after Among imposed strict penalties on opposition MPs who have been boycotting sittings to address pending issues of human rights violations and missing opposition supporters.
Among’s directives included warnings of potential loss of parliamentary seats for MPs missing 15 consecutive sittings without permission, urging them to seek formal permission for their absence. Additionally, she extended sanctions to bar boycotting MPs from committee meetings, domestic and foreign travel, and participation in the upcoming East African games in Kigali, Rwanda.
However, Mpuuga dismissed these sanctions, emphasizing that MPs are elected for representation rather than their athletic abilities. He asserted, “No legislator was sent to parliament on account of being an athlete or footballer so those small diversions, as political leaders in parliament, we understand them but we cannot be diverted.”
The Opposition Leader called for neutrality from the Speaker, urging her to pressure the executive to address their demands as promised by the government. He pointed out the unmet 30-day deadline given by the government to respond to their demands, stressing the necessity for a government response.
Expressing disappointment over the lack of ministerial responses due to their absence from the country, Mpuuga emphasized the continuation of the boycott until their concerns receive proper attention from the executive. He affirmed that their demands centered on critical issues and were not tied to any political affiliation.
“The matters for which we are making demands are extremely pertinent, in fact, they are not even partisan,” Mpuuga stated, highlighting the severity and non-partisan nature of their demands.
The opposition legislators’ boycott of plenary sittings remains ongoing until the government addresses their concerns, signaling their unwavering commitment to prioritizing crucial issues over parliamentary attendance.