Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Joel Ssenyonyi has warned that Parliament’s progress in governance and accountability will remain largely symbolic unless government institutions act on issues raised by MPs, including alleged unlawful detentions, ministers’ failure to honour parliamentary summons and delays in implementing public projects.
Addressing the media at Parliament today, Ssenyonyi acknowledged improvements in the conduct of parliamentary business, including greater space for the opposition, improved access for media and reduced tension, but said the real measure of Parliament’s effectiveness should be whether those subjected to parliamentary scrutiny take corrective action rather than simply respond with letters.
He said Parliament must move beyond receiving explanations from government agencies and ensure that its resolutions, recommendations and demands for accountability translate into action. Ssenyonyi, also a member of the Parliamentary Commission, said the opposition had repeatedly raised concerns over alleged abductions and people being held outside established legal procedures.
He cited the disappearance of Eria Jengo, a journalist with Baba TV who reportedly went missing on September 10, and activist Praise Aloikin Opoloje, who was reportedly picked up over the weekend.
Ssenyonyi said the cases form part of a wider list of people whose whereabouts his office has been seeking clarification, including former Butambala County MP Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi and other opposition supporters and leaders. He said his office recently received correspondence from the Ministry of Internal Affairs seeking clarification on the names of people whose cases had been raised in Parliament.
Ssenyonyi called for anyone being held in connection with alleged offences to either be released or produced before a court of law in accordance with established legal procedures. Ssenyonyi also said the opposition would continue raising concerns over alleged unlawful treatment regardless of the political affiliation of those affected.
He said cases involving some NRM supporters and leaders had changed the political conversation around alleged abductions and arrests. “For a long time we would raise these issues whenever one of us would be abducted, and you would see some colleagues in the NRM saying, no, those are not abductions, those are arrests,” he said.
He added that opposition leaders would not celebrate when NRM supporters face similar treatment, saying respect for the law should apply equally to all citizens.
Ssenyonyi also criticised ministers who fail to appear before Parliament and its accountability committees to answer questions concerning their respective dockets. He said ministers are public office holders with a responsibility to account to Parliament and should not require permission from other authorities before responding to parliamentary summons.
His comments come amid renewed emphasis by Speaker Jacob Marksons Oboth on the obligation of accounting officers to appear before parliamentary committees. In August, Oboth warned accounting officers to honour committee summons, describing accountability to Parliament as a constitutional obligation.
Ssenyonyi said Parliament’s effectiveness would depend partly on whether ministers and accounting officers comply with these obligations. “That’s why we get bothered whenever ministers don’t show up in Parliament. That’s why we get bothered when they don’t show up in committees to account,” he said-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
