Ssenyonyi Applauds New Parliamentary Leadership

What the report says

Leader of Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi has publicly welcomed the new parliamentary leadership in Uganda, saying the House is operating with more decorum and greater freedom of expression under Speaker Jacob Oboth-Oboth than it did under the previous leadership of the 11th Parliament. His remarks, reported by Nile Post, came as he spoke to journalists with members of his shadow cabinet ahead of Parliament’s return from a one-month recess.

Ssenyonyi said the change was noticeable in the way debate is conducted and in how MPs treat one another, contrasting it with the more confrontational atmosphere he associated with former Speaker Anita Among’s tenure. The article says his praise is notable because he has often clashed with the previous parliamentary leadership, especially over claims that Opposition voices were being sidelined.

The report adds background on one long-running dispute: Ssenyonyi had previously complained about not being included in Parliamentary Commission meetings despite holding a seat on the body as Leader of the Opposition. He had also pushed for greater transparency and raised concerns about how Parliament was being run. According to the article, those tensions extended to the floor of the House, where opposition MPs at times walked out or boycotted proceedings over procedure and consultation.

Even while welcoming the new tone, Ssenyonyi urged Parliament to keep prioritizing oversight, protect space for dissent, and focus on taxpayers’ interests, including caution over heavy public borrowing. The broader significance is that his comments suggest a possible easing in tone at the top of Parliament, though the Opposition still wants robust scrutiny of government action.