Kampala, (UG): National UNity Platform (NUP) Principal, Mr Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine has appointed Nakawa West MP, Hon Joel Ssenyonyi as the new Leader of Opposition on a two and half year political term.
He replaces Mr Mathias Mpuuga who has since been named commissioner of Parliament.
Ssenyonyi, who also doubles as the NUP spokesperson was until the time of his appointment the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities, and State Enterprises (COSASE).
Speaking shortly after the confirmation of his appointment on Friday afternoon at NUP Headquarters in Makerere Kavule, Seenyonyi hailed his predecessor Mpuyga for laying the foundation which he will follow for the remaining two and half years of the eleventh parliament of Uganda.
“I’m glad that you (Mathias Mpuuga) has offered to keep guiding me as I take on this new task [of LoP]. I’m not the most educated nor most experienced among the opposition members. I might not even be the most deserving to be appointed LoP, according to some people, but such is leadership,” said Mr Ssenyonyi who assumes the new role with immediate effect.
Bobi addresses Mpuuga firing claims
Speaking to the media on Friday at NUP headquarters, Bobi Wine clarified that the replacement of Mr Mpuuga should not be considered as sacking, adding that NUP as a party believes in a moral change in leadership.
“This is not firing or demotion as some detractors would like to call it, it is a moral change. Because we have the resourcefulness and the blessing of senior leaders, we want to use that to empower and groom young leaders,” he said.
Mpuuga as LOP
Mpuuga, the MP for Nyendo-Mukungwe in Masaka City assumed the position of Leader of Opposition (LOP) in May 2021 and has served in the position for 2 years, 6 months and 26 days.
Throughout his term, the former DP stalwart has been at the forefront of demanding the release of the 18 missing party supporters.
Among the remarkable achievements his office achieved include the advocacy against the alleged gross human rights violations, which include; abductions, illegal arrests and continued trial of civilians in the General Court Martial, among others.
In early October, Mr Mpuuga led opposition MPs out of plenary sittings for nearly two months in protest of the government’s laxity in explaining the missing Ugandans.
Early this month, Mpuuga was left dismayed when fellow opposition MPs made a U-turn to attend plenary sittings after the government’s statement in which the Internal Affairs minister, Maj Gen Kahinda Otafiire said the police investigations into the matters of alleged missing persons faced several challenges which compromised the integrity of the findings from the people given as next of kin.
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