Among asks voters to reject MPs who boycott regional sitting

Addressing residents at Kaunda Stadium in Gulu City, Among said MPs who fail to attend are not acting in the best interests of their constituents.

Speaker of Parliament Anita Among has urged the people of the Greater North not to reelect any members of Parliament who boycott the upcoming northern regional Parliament sitting.

The inaugural northern regional sitting will take place on August 29 and 30 at Kaunda Playgrounds in Gulu City's Bardege-Layibi Division.

Other sittings are expected to take place in Mbarara, Masaka, and Mbale.

Addressing residents at Kaunda Stadium in Gulu City, Among made it clear that attendance at the sitting is crucial for the region, emphasising that MPs who fail to attend are not acting in the best interests of their constituents.

Among specifically thanked Opposition MPs, including Gilbert Olanya (Kilak South), former Leader of Opposition Betty Aol, and Anthony Akol (Kilak North), for defying the directive from the Leader of Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi, to boycott the sittings.

She announced that Parliament will take a roll call to record the MPs present and those who choose to abstain.

"I want to tell you people of the Greater North that whoever boycotts this session, don’t return that person back to Parliament, because we are going to discuss issues that concern the Greater North," said Among.

She stressed the importance of the sitting, highlighting the historical significance of the Greater North in Uganda’s history, including having had a President from the region.

The Speaker also dismissed claims from the Opposition that the regional sittings are a waste of taxpayers' money, arguing that funds spent in Gulu are justified as the area is part of Uganda.

She defended the initiative to hold regional sittings as a way to bring Parliament closer to the people, a move supported by President Museveni.

"Whoever is there saying—no sitting, no sitting we shall sit," Among declared, adding that the expenses are within the budget and are part of Parliament’s inland travel allocation.

The regional sittings, according to Among, are intended to address the issues affecting the people of the Greater North, and she praised President Museveni for supporting the idea of taking Parliament to the regions to better connect with the citizens.

Recently, Leader of the Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi urged opposition MPs to boycott the planned regional Parliament sittings.

Ssenyonyi argued that the Shs5 billion allocated for each regional sitting would be better spent on essential services like healthcare, education, and infrastructure development.

"This would have a more direct impact on the lives of our people, rather than spending it on a meeting that may not yield any tangible results," Ssenyonyi said earlier this month.

However, on Monday, a group of Opposition MPs, led by Abed Bwanika of Kimaanya-Kabonero, defied Ssenyonyi's advice and announced their intention to attend the sitting in Gulu. Bwanika dismissed Ssenyonyi's concerns about the budget allocation, arguing that the funds had been approved by Parliament.

"This would have been the best opportunity for the party to expand its structures, but instead of focusing on that, he [Ssenyonyi] is saying he won't attend. I ask, where is Ssenyonyi when the budget is being passed? He doesn’t seem to understand anything," Bwanika said.

Bwanika further urged Ssenyonyi to reconsider his stance on the regional sittings, emphasizing their importance in addressing issues across the country.

"I want to call upon the Leader of the Opposition to rethink his position. We all need to go to Gulu, focus on that part of the country, and then, when Parliament sits in Central Uganda, we can welcome them to our city, Masaka. I am going to Gulu to ensure we address the issues in Northern Uganda," he added.

The government plans to spend over Shs20 billion on the four sittings in Gulu, Mbarara, Mbale, and Masaka. The regional sittings have faced criticism from some opposition MPs and citizens who view them as a waste of taxpayers' money.