Opposition reveals why it skipped late MP's special session

Opposition legislators have hit back at a criticism from their NRM colleagues and the media over their absence during yesterday’s special parliament sitting to eulogise former Ruhaama County MP, William Beijukye Zinkuratiire.

Zinkuratiire (46) a first time legislator, came to parliament in 2016, replacing First Lady Janet Kataaha Museveni who had served for two terms. He died of Hepatitis B from Nsambya hospital.

Subsequently, a special session was held yesterday in which fellow legislators would eulogise him. However, the legislators from opposition were a no show, in the end, government ministers took over the moment of laying wreaths on behalf of the opposition whose absence was neither explained nor informed in advance.

However, Opposition whip and Kira municipality legislator Ssemujju Nganda while speaking to journalists at parliament on Tuesday castigated the NRM legislators for being absent during the requiem mass.

Ssemujju told journalists that the church service at Namungoona was shunned by all NRM legislators.

“There was no government representative even."

"Where were they during the church service in Namungoona?" Ssemujju queried, adding that Moses Kasibante and himself can attest to that.

Meanwhile during the parliament sitting, Ruth Nankabirwa, the Government chief whip laid the wreath on behalf of the Leader of Opposition Winnie Kiiza, while Chris Baryomunsi the State for Housing laid the wreath on behalf of secretary-general of the Forum for Democratic Change, Nandala Mafabi.

Mwesigwa Rukutana the Deputy Attorney General laid the wreath on behalf of the Uganda People’s Congress whip Santa Alum and Julius Maganda, the state minister for East African Affairs laid the wreath on behalf of the Democratic Party whip.

The opposition whip’s wreath was laid by Bright Rwamirama, the minister of state for Veteran Affairs.