The Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, has applauded the Opposition MPs who defied the Leader of Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi, calling for the boycott regional sittings.
Among revealed that Parliament will take a roll call to establish the MPs that have attended and those that snubbed the sittings.
During the opening session at Kaunda Grounds in Gulu city, Speaker Among emphasized that Gulu is an integral part of Uganda and that there is no justification for some MPs to oppose the sitting, unless they have ulterior motives or are opposed to the well-being of the people of Gulu.
She noted that just as Parliament is typically held in Kololo, Kampala, it can also be convened in Gulu, underscoring the importance of regional sittings in addressing specific regional needs.
“A people-centered parliament must be responsive to the needs of the citizens, or else society will be without effective parliamentary representation. The 11th Parliament, right from inception in 2021, vowed to put the people at the centre of the legislative process and its decisions. That is why we are taking Parliament to the people. We have brought parliament to the people; we don’t want people to come to parliament,” she said.
She termed individuals opposed to the regional sittings outside Kampala as selfish and don’t love the Northern Region because the constitution gives her powers to proclaim parliament to hold sittings anywhere in Uganda, including the middle of Kampala Road.
“And where Parliament is, is where the Speaker is and where the Speaker proclaims, and this will be Parliament. So, this perception of saying that Parliament must always sit in Kampala is being selfish. The next time, we can even proclaim the middle of Kampala Road to be part of Parliament,” Among said.
Among has asked the people of Gulu not to be misled by some opposition MPs who are boycotting the parliamentary regional sittings in the regions.
Speaker Among assured the public that the regional sittings will continue, with or without the participation of some opposition MPs who are prioritizing their own interests.
This comes after Ssenyonyi urged his colleagues to boycott the sitting, claiming it was a waste of taxpayers’ money.
However, several opposition MPs, including Bukomansimbi district woman MP Veronica Nanyondo, Njeru Municipality MP Jimmy Lwanga, Bukoto south MP Twaha Kagabo, Kawempe South MP Bashir Kazibwe Mbazira, and Abedi Bwanika of Kimanya Kabonera from the National Unity Platform (NUP), have defied Ssenyonyi’s call and are attending the sitting.
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