ANALYSIS: Betty Aol Ocan

New Leader of Opposition in parliament looks to biblical David for inspiration as daunting task dawns on her

Kampala, Uganda | RONALD MUSOKE | Betty Aol Ocan, the new Leader of Opposition in Uganda’s 10th Parliament says her Christian values of honesty, truthfulness, hard work and loyalty will help rally her fellow MPs in Parliament to work as a team to deliver results to Ugandans.

“The people of Uganda expect better things from the opposition rather than the NRM,” she told The Independent on Aug.10.

Ocan, 59, said just like God empowered David in the bible to kill a bear and a lion before slaying Goliath, she feels she has already been prepared for this daunting task.

The Gulu Woman MP was on Aug.08, formally confirmed by Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Oulanyah, as the new Leader of Opposition in the 10th Parliament.

Oulanyah, who presided over the plenary sitting, read to the House the communication from the Forum for Democratic Change, Secretary General, Nandala Mafabi, naming the new leadership of opposition.

The Forum for Democratic Change President Patrick Amuriat Oboi had on Aug.3 in consultation with FDC’s National Executive Committee, replaced Winnie Kiiza as the Leader of the Opposition even though her term was set to expire in December, this year.

The new changes also saw, Mubarak Munyagwa (Kawempe South) take over the chair of the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE). In other changes, Nandala Mafabi (Budadiri West) rebounded as the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee while Cecilia Ogwal was replaced by Francis Mwijukye as parliamentary Commissioner, among others.

But the reshuffle was greeted with shock and exasperation from some sections of the Ugandan public with some saying the new FDC leadership in Parliament, especially the Leader of Opposition and, the chairperson of COSASE, Mubarak Munyagwa, are “light weight.”

FDC president Amuriat came out fighting on television and FM radio talk-shows saying he had consulted widely over several months before the reshuffle was done. He also protested the insinuation that his new lieutenants are light weight arguing that as long as one qualifies to be MP, they qualify to be on a Parliamentary committee.

“I don’t actually understand why this has raised eyebrows; opportunity should be given to as many people as possible,” he said, “If the positions are held by just a particular people, how do we measure the strengths and capabilities for the rest of the people in the party?”

“When you talk about Betty Aol Ocan being little known, you underrate her political capacity and where she came from,” Amuriat said, “She started early and she is now a third term MP, so why would you think she would never perform in the position of Leader of Parliament.”

The office of the Leader of Opposition in Parliament was created by the Administration of Parliament (Amendment) Act 2006. The Act outlines the role of the Leader of the Opposition as “to hold the government to account,” through providing alternative policies and opinion.

But the office bearer who in principle serves two two-and-half-year terms also enjoys several perks and privileges of a Member of Parliament and a cabinet minister. Ocan, will for instance, be entitled to a lead car and chauffer driven vehicle, as well as security personnel drawn from the Uganda Police Force to guard her residence, and an official Aide de Camp.

Some political analysts have explained that it is these perks that have often threatened to shred the opposition parties into pieces each time changes are made in Parliament.

When, for instance Mugisha Muntu assumed the FDC party leadership after an acrimonious election and fired Nandala Mafabi as leader of opposition, the reaction then mirrored the current apprehension and bitterness within the opposition.

Wafula Oguttu who replaced Nandala Mafabi was so shaken that he at first turned down the offer. Again, party loyalists, were disappointed that Oguttu was replacing an opposition big wig who had mastered the rough and tumble of Uganda’s opposition politics.

Oguttu had a rough start too. He inherited a polarised opposition in parliament as his predecessor’s take-no prisoners approach had alienated some opposition colleagues, especially from DP and UPC.

He told Daily Monitor that he had come in as an underdog who might not fit in the big shoes of Ogenga Latigo (2006-2011) and Nandala Mafabi. Tasked with naming a shadow cabinet, two appointees rejected his positions while others questioned the size of his cabinet. But as the storm over appointments settled, he sought to unite the opposition in Parliament into pushing in the same direction.

Ocan, a professional teacher, will be hoping that similar luck comes her way. It also appears she is destined to follow a similar route.

In a telephone interview with The Independent, Ocan said if the members of the opposition in Parliament unite, their work will be a little easier since they face a common foe in the ruling party—the National Resistance Movement.

“When we are together, we are stronger and we can achieve more than when we are divided,” she said, “When we are out of Parliament trying to mobilise, we can afford to be partisan, but inside Parliament, we have to bury some of the conflict and differences so we work together for the people of Uganda.”

Ocan told The Independent that she intends to rally her opposition colleagues so they work as a team.

“I am one person who has a high sense of respect for what others have previously contributed.”

“There is no need to start from scratch. So I recognize and respect the work already done by the four leaders of opposition who came before me.”

“I also believe in learning and the position I have been put in is not because I am already perfect but it is to empower me.”

“We will continue to dialogue among ourselves, brainstorm and prioritise and then focus on what our priorities are. We will be able to move, once we work as a team.”

Work success in Uganda’s parliament is about numbers and the ruling NRM party has got over two-thirds of MPs in Parliament. So, Ocan says, it is a challenge for the opposition to push any of its positions through.

“But we will continue going back to the people to explain our positions on certain issues,” she said.

In her very first address to Parliament, Ocan called for unity from all the opposition parties to achieve a common goal of checking the government.

“Honourable members, I am so happy to be the fifth leader of opposition in this Parliament and I would like to appeal to all my fellow colleagues from the opposition to unite in order to check the government well,” she said.

“Our key role is ensuring accountability with the government, presenting and discussing alternative positions,” she said, “To achieve that, we will need a united front.”

She noted that whilst differences of opinion and ideas are healthy and should be encouraged, the opposition cannot afford to be divided because they are numerically thin.

Ocan says she was elected for her ability to work with everyone, because she is a humble person, and her long time commitment to the party and also because she has friends in the ruling party.

Ocan’s predecessor, Kiiza, has assured her predecessor of her full support during her reign while the government Chief Whip, Ruth Nankabirwa, also pledged to work with Ocan for a constructive opposition for a platform to critique the government.

In the coming weeks, Ocan will appoint and head an alternative shadow cabinet whose duty is to challenge and influence government legislation on the floor of Parliament. But that small matter will come after a small party she has organised back home in Gulu on the weekend of Aug. 18.