Opposition still focused on regime change – Mpuuga

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Leader of Opposition in Parliament Mathias Mpuuga has reiterated that they have not lost focus on causing regime change in Uganda.

Mpuuga made the statement while addressing journalists at parliament as he marked 100 days in office. He was appointed into the office by the President of the National Unity Platform Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu after his party emerged as the main opposition group, having won more parliamentary seats than all other opposition groups in the January polls.

He said that he wakes up on a daily with the aim of forcing the ruling National Resistance Movement-NRM out of power and added that he will continue pressing for change on all fronts in the country’s political leadership so that they secure justice for the people.

Mpuuga added that the opposition will use its legislative agenda in pursuit of regime change. “It is not conclusive. It is a list of headlines and we work every day to improve it. As we speak, we are working on a framework of how to have this implemented,” Mpuuga explained.

He however noted that his first 100 days of leadership had been challenged by a shortage of space, adding that although they are under a lot of constraints, they are not frustrated since it remains a short-term challenge that they work upon every day to improve and also deliver on their mandate.

Speaking about the quality of debate in parliament, Mpuuga said that opposition members should not be reminded to research before making submissions and encouraged the MPs to consider it as a full-time job to debate with information. He also noted that they are to continue to position their leadership on the concerns of Ugandans since they are not oblivious of the public’s expectation of them.

“We shall definitely generate Bills but ours is a slower process, consultative and embodies so many other options at our disposal. I assure the country that we are not worried as the opposition,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Leader of Opposition emphasized that the main opposition political party- the National Unity Platform-NUP is still unwilling to participate in activities of the Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue-IPOD since the ruling party has failed to provide answers to several of their issues like human rights violations extended to their supporters.

He says that parties already in IPOD should show a genuine cause why NUP should be part of IPOD and that they are only to join after generating consensus on the matter.

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