Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) president Hon Jimmy Akena has issued a stinging rebuke to Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Parliament Hon Winnie Kizza telling her to mind about FDC and leave his party alone.
Akena lashed at Kizza in relation to yesterday’s political stalemate in which opposition MPs protested a move by UPC legislator to takeover a Parliamentary Committee slot offered to him by Government Chief Whip Hon Ruth Nankabirwa.
Parliament was on Tuesday constituting Sectoral Committees for the Second Session of the 10th Parliament. Composition and leadership of Sectoral Committees is constituted at the start of each new session of Parliament.
During the process, the Government Chief Whip riled Opposition legislators for designating UPC’s Hon. Maxwell Akora (Maruzi) as the Vice Chair of the Committee on ICT, a position he served in during the First Session that ended in May to a later date until the matter is resolved.
The Leader of the Opposition said that Nankabirwa’s action was not in the spirit of developing democracy and prevented Party Whips from carrying out their duties.
She prayed for time to consider whether UPC MPs can still be designated by the Opposition.
“The government side designating Opposition MPs is not correct; it’s not in the spirit of developing democracy. We need to rethink our position before constituting committees,” said Kiiza.
The Opposition rejected appeals by the Rt. Hon. Deputy Speaker, Jacob Oulanyah, to approve other sectoral committees to facilitate the work of Parliament.
Kizza unequivocally said that UPC should decide on whether to join the ruling party or remain in opposition.
Akena, earlier in the day while at his office at Uganda House, said matters of UPC should be left for the party to sort them.
“As UPC we don’t serve individuals but instead we serve the country,” said.
He advised LoP Kizza to first sort FDC issues before looking at what is transpiring in other parties.
The soft spoken politician said there is no harm in his party working with the regime.
Akena’s wife Hon Betty Amongi is the Minister of Lands and Urban Planning.
Former Kole Woman MP Ruth Achieng was appointed Ambassador in Ottawa, Canada.
