The Speaker of Parliament Annet Anita Among has asked the people of Gulu to ignore some of the opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) that are boycotting the parliamentary sittings in the regions.
This comes a day after Speaker Among had just rallied the people of the Greater North not to reelect any MP who boycotted the northern regional Parliament sitting.
While opening an inaugural session of Northern Regional sitting at Kaunda Playgrounds in Gulu City’s Bardege-Layibi division on Wednesday, Speaker Among emphasized that Gulu is an integral part of Uganda and that there is no justification for some MPs to oppose the sittings, unless they have ulterior motives or are opposed to the well-being of the people of Gulu.
She cited parliamentary sittings normally convened at Kololo Independence ground in Kampala which have never been opposed, saying the same plenary sessions can be held in any region like Gulu, with the aim of addressing specific regional needs.
Among emphasized that the regional Parliamentary sittings will continue with or without the participation of some opposition MPs.
Other sittings are expected to take place in Mbarara, Masaka, and Mbale.
Recently, the Leader of the Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi urged opposition MPs to boycott the planned regional Parliament sittings, noting that the Shs5 billion allocated for each regional sitting would be better spent on essential services like healthcare, education, and infrastructure development.
However, several opposition MPs, including Bukomansimbi district Woman Representative Veronica Nanyondo, Njeru Municipality’s Jimmy Lwanga, Bukoto South’s Twaha Kagabo, Kawempe South’s Bashir Mbaziira Kazibwe and Abedi Bwanika of Kimanya-Kabonera from the National Unity Platform-NUP and more others, have defied Ssenyonyi’s call and are attending the sitting.
