UYD, Govt condemn opposition MPs for boycotting Museveni speech

By Charles Katabalwa

17^th March 2023

The Democratic Party- DP youths under their body the Uganda Young Democrats (UYD) have condemned the opposition Members of Parliament for boycotting President Museveni’s address at Kololo ceremonial grounds.

On Thursday, the opposition cabinet in Parliament boycotted Museveni’s address to Parliament citing rampant cases of corruption, arbitrary arrests, detention and enforced disappearance of the regime’s political opponents.

Speaking to Radio Sapientia, Ismail Kiirya the UYD President said that boycotting the special sitting was useless and the actors ought to resign if they are not ready to fulfill their parliamentary roles.

Kiirya described this as cheap politics which is detrimental to the development of the country.

In a similar vein, the Government spokesperson Ofwono Opondo, has said the decision taken by the opposition members of Parliament to boycott president Museveni’s address to Parliament will not stop the democratization journey of Uganda.

The Minister of ICT and National Guidance, Chris Baryomunsi said the absence of any opposition MPs does not affect the working of Parliament in any way.

According to Busiro County East MP, Medard Lubega Sseggona, the reasons for the boycott were the political detentions of government opponents who he claimed have been missing without a trace from the time of the general election in 2021.

Sseggona also pointed at what he called the reluctance of President Museveni to walk the talk on fighting corruption.