Joel Ssenyonyi, the newly elected Leader of Opposition in Parliament (LoP), is poised to intensify efforts during his tenure, succeeding Mathias Mpuuga. In a statement made before journalists at Parliament, Ssenyonyi highlighted the priority of addressing the issue of missing opposition supporters, a challenge initiated by his predecessor.
“We will not stop working on the important issues that we have been focusing on. Rather, we are looking to engage in a higher gear,” Ssenyonyi asserted.
One of the primary concerns at the forefront of Ssenyonyi’s agenda is the ongoing issue of missing persons within the opposition. He emphasized the need to continue the pursuit initiated before Christmas by Mpuuga, acknowledging the unresolved nature of the matter. Ssenyonyi revealed that Parliament had previously resolved to conduct a thorough inquiry into missing persons, a resolution he intends to remind the legislative body to ensure its implementation.
The issue of missing opposition supporters gained prominence before, during, and after the 2021 elections, leading to tensions between the government and the Opposition. Despite the government’s explanations on November 29, 2023, the Opposition remains dissatisfied and continues to demand more answers.
Ssenyonyi expressed discontent with Madam Mariam Wangadya, chairperson of the human rights commission, who cast doubts over the existence of missing opposition supporters. He emphasized the need to understand Wangadya’s perspective, citing inconsistencies in her statements.
Addressing the controversy surrounding the blocked appointment of Francis Zaake as deputy Opposition chief whip, Ssenyonyi acknowledged the absence of the position in the House Rules of Procedure. However, he defended the creation of the role for convenience, noting its existence in the previous Parliament.
The official transition of leadership was communicated on Tuesday, following a statement by National Unity Platform (NUP) leader Robert Kyagulanyu (Bobi Wine) in December, indicating Ssenyonyi’s succession. Speaker Anita Among expressed her commitment to collaboration with Ssenyonyi while emphasizing the importance of intellectual debates in Parliament over confrontations.
