Opposition MPs Extend Self Given Leave Seeking Gov’t Apology 

Opposition parliamentarians have extended their leave from the legislature in an effort to put pressure on the current government to apologize to them. 

On Wednesday, October 11, 2023, opposition MPs under the leadership of Mathias Mpuuga declared that they would not be returning to the legislature unless the government released a statement regarding the detention of their colleagues and expressed regret for the same.

“We are still demanding a statement regarding the flow of parliament, and that statement must have an apology, a commitment, and an undertaking that those actions will not be repeated again,” Mpuuga added.

According to Mpuuga, actions like the arrest of their leaders and supporters have no place in the law or common sense, and the opposition will not stand by as politics is debased by the administration.

They should never be carried out again since they are against the law and common sense. We won’t stand by while politics degenerates, and NRM is pleased to disrespect our party offices, blocking the opposition from doing a straightforward act of humility, such as praying, he stated.

The arrest of National Unity Platform (NUP) leaders and supporters who had assembled at the party’s secretariat in Kamwokya prompted opposition-leaning lawmakers to leave parliament on October 10.

Muwanga Kivumbi, the opposition’s acting leader, led them after deputy speaker Thomas Tayebwa barred them from hearing the government’s justification for the detention of their leaders.

During Tuesday’s plenary, acting speaker Thomas Tayebwa was given the order by Muwanga Kivumbi to either enable the ministers in charge of security to explain the detention of the opposition’s leaders to them or he would lead the opposition MPs outside.