The Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Joel Ssenyonyi, has taken a firm stance against Speaker Anitah Among, urging her to address allegations of corruption and abuse of office within the law-making institution without diverting attention to unrelated issues such as homosexuality.
Ssenyonyi emphasized that those seeking accountability are not advocating for homosexual rights but are ordinary Ugandan taxpayers seeking answers regarding the use of public funds.
Addressing Speaker Among’s assertion that the ongoing social media campaign is merely retaliation for Parliament’s passing of the Anti-Homosexuality Act, Ssenyonyi rebuked, stating, “Madam Speaker, please refrain from deflecting the issue to homosexuality. Are you implying that Ugandans demanding fiscal transparency are homosexuals? Let us focus on the matter at hand.”
Ssenyonyi’s outspoken criticism of the Speaker marks a significant departure from the usual reticence displayed by most Members of Parliament when confronting Among’s positions in the past.
He urged Speaker Among to refrain from scapegoating and emphasized that the issue of homosexuality was irrelevant to the current discourse. Instead, he stressed the importance of addressing the public’s concerns regarding financial accountability directly.
“Ugandans are demanding answers about how their money is being utilized, so let’s not pretend this is about personal preferences. Your popularity is inconsequential; what matters is your responsibility as a public servant and the proper stewardship of public funds,” asserted Ssenyonyi.
Ssenyonyi questioned the conspicuous silence of Parliament in response to the mounting allegations over the past three months, despite the institution’s purported commitment to being people-centered.
He called upon Speaker Among to provide explanations for Parliament’s inaction and demanded transparency in addressing the corruption allegations circulating on social media platforms.
In response, Speaker Among categorically refused to entertain the allegations within Parliament, dismissing them as mere “hearsay.”
She reiterated her stance against engaging with unsubstantiated rumors or social media speculation, asserting her commitment to ethical governance practices.
Expressing his dissatisfaction with Parliament’s handling of the allegations, Ssenyonyi highlighted the inconsistency in the institution’s response, citing instances where Parliament’s spokesperson confirmed some of the accusations on various media platforms.
He underscored the contradiction in Parliament’s claims of being people-centered while failing to adequately address concerns and provide accountability to the citizens of Uganda.
In recent weeks, Parliament has faced intense scrutiny due to the “UgandaParliamentExhibition” social media campaign, which uncovered several instances of questionable financial transactions involving high-ranking leaders and legislators.
