Bugiri Municipality MP and JEMA Party President Asuman Basalirwa has reaffirmed his commitment to attend the upcoming regional parliamentary sittings, dismissing concerns raised by the Leader of Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi. Basalirwa’s stance comes amid growing tension within Uganda’s political circles over the effectiveness and legitimacy of these regional sessions, which are being organized by Parliament as a means of engaging directly with communities across the country.
The first of these regional sittings is scheduled to take place in Gulu on August 28, 2024, and is part of a broader initiative aimed at bridging the gap between Ugandans and their legislators. The Parliament’s move has been positioned as a strategy to better understand the specific needs of different regions and to enhance the relationship between the public and their representatives.
However, this initiative has faced sharp criticism from Joel Ssenyonyi, the Leader of Opposition. Ssenyonyi has publicly denounced the regional sittings, labeling them as ineffective and a waste of public funds. He argues that these sessions are unlikely to address the pressing issues facing Ugandans and has accused the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, of using these events as an opportunity to squander taxpayers’ money. Ssenyonyi has even called upon his fellow MPs to boycott the sittings in protest.
In response to Ssenyonyi’s criticisms, Basalirwa has dismissed these concerns, suggesting that Ssenyonyi is merely making unnecessary noise over what he sees as a non-issue. Basalirwa emphasized that the expenses related to the regional sittings have been fully covered by Parliament, which has arranged for buses to transport the legislators to Gulu. He expressed bewilderment over Ssenyonyi’s focus on the costs involved, noting that the logistics have been planned in a manner that avoids unnecessary expenditure.
Basalirwa’s political journey has been marked by significant challenges. His career faced a decline after several unsuccessful attempts to regain a seat in Parliament. However, his fortunes were revived when he received the backing of Bobi Wine during a by-election in which he contested against FDC’s Namatende Eunice, NRM’s Francis Oketcho, and other candidates. The election was highly competitive, but with Bobi Wine’s support, Basalirwa managed to secure victory. Despite this crucial assistance, it is rumored that Basalirwa has since distanced himself from Bobi Wine after re-entering Parliament.
As the date for the Gulu sitting approaches, the political rift between opposition leaders continues to deepen. While Basalirwa stands firm on his decision to attend, it remains to be seen how the broader opposition will respond to Ssenyonyi’s call for a boycott and whether this dispute will impact the regional sessions’ objectives.
