Opposition under the ‘no sleep’ dispensation

As a reminder, the working theme for the new government is No sleep, no corruption! In the previous two articles, we enumerated how the theme applies to the Executive branch. Today, we look at how it applies to the opposition side.

Online, I have observed some Ugandans who claim that Museveni is not their President, in an attempt to perpetuate the (futile) politics of defi ance. However, the same people are selected when it comes to opposition leaders, as if they were voted for by everyone. Uganda is one country with one government where both National Resistance Movement (NRM) and opposition parties are represented in power structures.

Last week, LOP Joel Ssenyonyi made comments on the floor of Parliament, which I found in line with President Museveni’s projected line of business in the new term of office and which the “lost sheep” should learn from. Ssenyonyi stated that he didn’t vote for Jacob Oboth as Speaker (because he had his own candidate in the race, Paul Mwiru), but the Speaker, once elected, was a Speaker for all. He also said that Vice-President Jessica Alupo and Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, who had been approved by the House (but appointed by the President), should be ready to serve everyone and that opposition would be at their doors, knocking.

I also watched a clip where Ssenyonyi was at the swearing-in of the new Nakawa division mayor, Ali Bukeni (Nubian Li). Even there, he talked of working together for the good of the people. Kampala Lord Mayor Ronald Balimwezo and Bukeni spoke a similar language in favour of serving all regardless of political differences.

The collective statement of the above elected leaders hailing from National Unity Platform, which is the dominant opposition group, for me, answers the question of where opposition belongs in the new “no sleep” dispensation of 2026-2031. You cannot be in Uganda and claim that Museveni is not your President simply because you didn’t vote for him. Not everybody voted for Ssenyonyi, Balimwezo, Bukeni, Betty Nambooze (MP Mukono Municipality), Mwiru, etc. No single leader was voted for by all Ugandans, but that does not take away their legitimacy, unless decided otherwise by the courts of law or other competent forums.

Alupo and Nabbanja were not voted to be VP and PM, respectively, but they were collectively approved by Parliament, including the opposition side. They are the VP and PM of all Ugandans. All Ministers, Resident District Commissioners, heads of Ministry, Department and Agencies serve all Ugandans.

Therefore, all Ugandans are under the authority and responsibility of President Museveni without exception. It takes discipline, a sense of maturity, mutual respect, co-operation (on matters of national importance) and exemplariness to realise this fact and go by it. That’s the kind of opposition we want to see. I commend other parties that have also embraced this concept.

The opposition is bound to observe the no sleep, no corruption command of service, which aims to effectively deliver services to all citizens without discrimination. Opposition has a duty to keep government in check, but who keeps opposition in check? Who checks the opposition when it is sleeping on the job or when they engage in corruption? We can’t only question the Executive/government bench.

In the previous Parliament, there were hints of under performance, where reports could not be accounted for in time. Some opposition MPs were also noted for under-performance in the constituencies, which resulted in many of them who had benefited from the “wave” in 2021, not making it back. Others played dirty to get re-elected, while some were favoured by the party bosses. Kampala, with Lord Mayor Lukwago, opposition-only MPs and Division councils, saw a lot of stagnation. Isn’t that sleeping on the job? It has been noted that some opposition leaders spent the whole term out of sight, only turning up to fight for party cards for re-election. But everyone is quiet about them, apparently because they are immune to criticism. On which grounds? This is taxpayers’ money they are earning for free, yet accusing NRM colleagues of similar things.

There are reports about some opposition MPs who have been engaged in corruption, but this is not given attention because they trick the public into focusing on the NRM side, as the “government in power”. We risk entrenching an opposition that may be averse to transparency and accountability while bossing everyone else.

In this new term, NRM and state agencies must do “counter oversight” over the opposition and do performance and lifestyle audits on its leaders. And no one should claim witch-hunt or political persecution when asked to account because what is good for NRM is good for the opposition, too.

Anyone who disregards the President’s command for all to stay awake and to desist from corrupt tendencies, thinking that being opposition gives them cover to do as they wish, should know that when it comes to the need for services, Ugandans do not differentiate. The same sieve that applies to NRM also applies to opposition. Non-performers from both sides are individually exposed and ejected. Ugandan voters are united when it comes to demanding the national cake since the challenges they face are more or less the same. Five years is not far off when everyone will have to account before them.

The author is the Special Presidential Assistant-Press & Mobilisation/Deputy Press Secretary-State House Email: faruk.kirunda@statehouse. go.ug