Newly appointed Leader of Opposition (LoP) Betty Aol Ochan has urged aggrieved opposition parties to respect each other, embrace new changes and work together for the betterment of opposition in Uganda.
Betty Aol, who is Gulu Woman MP said this on Wednesday while making her first statement as leader of opposition on the floor of Parliament where she was hospitably received by MPs especially from the NRM ruling party.
Last week, FDC President Patrick Amuriat made major FDC reshuffle where he replaced Winfred Kiiza with Betty Aol as LoP, retained Ibrahim Ssemujju as Opposition Whip, dropped Abdu Katuntu as COSASE chair and replaced him with Mubarak Munyagwa among other changes.
“This office remains one of the few lines of defense for the people. This office defends all opposition in Parliament. Opposition is numerically small and whereas divergent views are healthy, we need to be unified; we need to dialogue and chat a way forward for the betterment of opposition and people,” Aol said.
“To effectively work together, we need to respect each other. Every one of us is gifted differently to better opposition. Let us give opportunity to each other, listen to each other and share resources.”
Aol also vowed to work together with her predecessors and called them upon to return the same favour.
“To my colleagues in opposition, integrity, honesty, unity and hard work is what I emphasize. We can constructively disagree to agree, for together we can move further. I will accommodatively work with you and accept the same,” she said.
Excited Aol thanked FDC President Amuriat for entrusting her with such a big position to steer the opposition in parliament and vowed to serve diligently to pile pressure on government to extend services to the people of Uganda.
“I want to say thank you Lord for granting me opportunity to serve your people as leader of opposition. I thank my appointing authority for entrusting me to lead the opposition. I therefore accept this position and say one Uganda, one people. I commend all leaders of opposition who have come before me for the courageous services in leading watch of govt. I commend my predecessor [Winfred Kiiza] for demonstrating the sign of valor even during the tough times here,” Aol said.
Deputy Speaker Jacob Oulanyah who presided over the House recognized and congratulated Aol and others upon their new appointments having admitted receiving a letter from FDC Secretary general, Nandala Mafabi dated 6 August, informing the office of the speaker about the new changes.
