President Museveni, while punching holes to Uganda’s inconsistent Opposition brand, is popularly quoted to have said ‘there would be no Opposition by 2021’.
Last Wednesday, at least five members of the National Unity Platform were among the 65 MPs from Opposition who backed Rt. Hon. Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga’s bid for a third term as Speaker of Parliament.
In a gallant event held at Speke Resort Munyonyo, both members of the ruling NRM and Opposition including the new leaders of the Opposition- NUP were honorably present. The five represented the rest of the NUP MPs- elect.
Like a child excited by a new Christmas dress, the new NUP MPs- elect led by Joyce Bagala (Mityana Woman MP) and Kazibwe Bashir Mbazira (Kawempe South) endorsed Hon. Kadaga as the Speaker of 11th Parliament.
Kadaga is tussling it out with her deputy Hon. Jacob Oulanya (both NRM) for speakership. Other members from the Opposition contesting are Hon Ssemuju Ibrahim Nganda (FDC- Kiira Municipality) and Democratic Party’s (DP) Richard Ssebamala (Bukoto Central MP-elect).
NO OPPOSITION BY 2021: THE MEANING
These young and lean NUP MPs’ decision has been informed by the NUP Principal Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine endorsement of Hon Kadaga during his presidential campaign in Kamuli last year.
Bobi Wine has gone ahead to clear the air that all his NUP MPs-elect will vote NRM’s Kadaga against FDC’s Ssemuju or DP’s Ssebamala for Speakership.
They have snubbed Ssemujju in particular, as they blatantly fool Ugandans that their role as Opposition in Uganda is to ‘remove the dictator’ as their popular social media hashtag goes. Remove the ‘dictator’ as you cheerfully serve the same ‘dictator.
The ‘dictator’ they loathe; his cadres they endorse! What an irony for Bobi Wine and his cluster of self-seeking strategists!
Ssemuju while launching his Speakership bid a fortnight ago said he had sent a letter to all presidents of opposition parties reminding them of their duty as opposition and asked them to support his bid.
“I have told them that as opposition, we will be asked to provide an alternative on everything that happens. It will be terrible if we assemble here on the first day to cheer the NRM. I am asking for their support,” Ssemujju said.
Going by Ssemuju’s ‘rejected’ call by NUP, the incoming leader party of Opposition at Parliament, NUP agenda remains questionable; whether to wag its tail as it seeks to eat and dine with NRM or lead the mantle to ‘remove the dictator’ as their principle Bobi Wine likes to joke.
Clearly, NUP is more of a danger to itself and the so-called Opposition as it continues to wag its tail to bed with NRM and its dedicated high notch cadres.
