LOP Ssenyonyi Calls For Focus on Critical Issues Over Regional Parliaments

Leader of the Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi, has accused Parliament of attempting to blackmail him and fellow Opposition MPs over their firm stance against the sitting of Regional Parliaments.

While addressing journalists at Parliament on Tuesday, Ssenyonyi called for the prioritization of pressing national issues, such as the deployment of medical interns, over what he views as unnecessary political theatrics.

“Medical interns have been protesting almost every day, and the Ministry of Health has stated they need Shs18 billion to deploy these interns. Why can’t we press the Government to bring a supplementary budget for that? Parliament has approved several supplementary budgets for ridiculous things, yet this is crucial.” he stated

Ssenyonyi said that the deployment of medical interns is not only essential for their education but also critical for addressing healthcare challenges in regional hospitals.

“In these regional hospitals, the bulk of the work is done by these interns. This is another way to address the health concerns in different regions,” he said, urging Parliament to focus on the real issues facing Ugandans.

Ssenyonyi also criticized the planned regional sittings, arguing that they would bring no tangible benefits to the public.

“Spending billions to transport MPs, ministers, and parliamentary staff to Gulu, only to leave without resolving key issues, is pointless. War claimants have been waiting for their compensation for years, and critical infrastructure like Karuma continues to be neglected. Let’s address the critical issues instead of engaging in politicking,” Ssenyonyi remarked.

Parliament is set to hold its first-ever regional sitting on August 28 and 30, 2024, in Gulu City.

This session will take place at the Kaunda Grounds in the Bardege-Layibi Division. The initiative aims to bring parliamentary proceedings closer to the people and address regional issues more directly. After Gulu, other regional sittings are planned in the eastern, central, and western parts of the country.

This move has sparked mixed reactions, with some praising it as a chance to focus on regional concerns, while others criticize it as a waste of resources that could be better spent on essential services like health and infrastructure​.

The cost of Uganda’s regional parliamentary sittings was already approved and passed by Parliament last year and it covers expenses such as transportation, accommodation, and other logistical needs for moving MPs, parliamentary staff, and equipment to the selected regional locations​.