On Tuesday, 09 January 2024, Nakawa Division West MP, Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi, officially took the helm as the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament (LOP), marking a significant change in the opposition ranks.
The announcement was made during a plenary sitting by Speaker Anita Among, who revealed that the Secretary General of the National Unity Platform Party had communicated the changes in opposition leadership, designating Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi as the new Leader of the Opposition. According to Section 6(b) of the Administration of Parliament Act, the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament is elected by the party in the opposition with the highest numerical strength.
Speaker Among congratulated Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi on his new role, wishing him a productive tenure. She expressed the commitment of both the government and the leadership of Parliament to collaborate with the Leader of the Opposition for the greater good.
Ssenyonyi’s appointment follows the two-and-a-half-year tenure of his predecessor, Hon. Mathias Mpuuga, who has now been appointed as a backbench Commissioner of Parliament, representing the Opposition. Mpuuga acknowledged the support he received from the Speaker and Deputy Speaker during his tenure and thanked Members of Parliament for their cooperation.
In his parting remarks, Mpuuga emphasized his commitment to serving the country and apologized to anyone who may have felt personally offended during his term. He urged the House to extend the same support to his successor, Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi.
Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi, in his remarks, expressed gratitude to Mpuuga for his leadership and service as the outgoing Leader of the Opposition. He outlined the key role of the LOP as keeping the government in check and pledged to execute that mandate effectively. Ssenyonyi also called for respectful disagreement within the House, emphasizing that holding the government accountable benefits all representatives and citizens.
Government Chief Whip, Hon. Hamson Obua, commended Mpuuga for his precise execution of LOP duties and assured government support for Ssenyonyi in his new role. The continuity in the positions of backbench Commissioners and Chief Opposition Whip was also announced during the session.
Additionally, Speaker Among disclosed changes in representatives at international parliamentary bodies, with Hon. Abdu Katuntu replacing Hon. Eric Musana at the Pan African Parliament and Hon. Elijah Okupa retaining his position on the board at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.
