Bwanika says "unwise" of NUP to snub regional sittings

Kimaanya-Kabonero MP Abed Bwanika has said it is unwise for the opposition not to participate in the regional Parliamentary sessions that are due to start this week.

On Monday, Bwanika said the opposition especially the National Unity Platform (NUP) should have used the Gulu session to rally support in the northern region where it does not have a single MP.

“If the Opposition was clever, we would have been the first to camp in Northern Uganda so we gather the region and support us, but if you start this kind of politics that I am not going because it is Speaker Among in charge, that means you have never understood politics. The Northern region didn’t support us, National Unity Platform doesn’t even have any MP from that region,” Bwanika said.

His remarks follow Leader of Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi's caution to opposition MPs against attending the planned regional Parliament sittings which will be held in Gulu, Mbale, Masaka, and Mbarara

Ssenyonyi had proposed that the Shs5 billion allocated for each regional sitting be redirected towards improving services in the country, such as 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 this month.

However, on Monday, a section of Opposition MPs led by Bwanika defied Ssenyonyi's caution and said they are going to Gulu to attend the sitting.

Bwanika, said that Ssenyonyi's concerns about the budget allocation for the sittings, were unfounded as long as it was passed by Parliament.

“This would have been the best opportunity for the Party to expand its structures, but instead of expanding the Party structure, he is saying I am not going, I was never informed, Ssenyonyi, where are you always when the budget is being passed because you don’t seem to understand anything?" he questioned.

The Kimaanya-Kabonero MP, further urged Ssenyonyi to rethink his position on the regional sittings, citing the importance of the sessions in solving issues in the country.

"I want to call upon the Leader of Opposition, to rethink his position, we need all of us to go to Gulu, pay attention to that part of this country and after that, the Parliament is going to sit in Central Uganda and they are going to come to our City Masaka. For us, we welcome Parliament and I am going to Gulu so that we focus on the issues in Northern Uganda,"

Over Shs20 billion will be spent in four sittings in Gulu, Mbarara, Mbale and Masaka.

The regional sittings have been challenged by some opposition MPs and citizens who see them as wastage of taxpayers' money.