Outgoing LOP Ssenyonyi claims vindication in anti-corruption battle

KAMPALA - Outgoing Leader of Opposition (LOP) Joel Ssenyonyi has said he feels vindicated by his efforts to combat corruption at the August House.

The Nakawa West lawmaker echoed this on Friday, May 15, 2026, shortly after taking oath.

“This Parliament has not been accountable. There’s been a lot of corruption in this Parliament. We have been talking about these things. I have spoken my voice hoarse about these issues until they tried targeting me. They tried bringing a law targeting Ssenyonyi because of speaking out and so on,” said Ssenyonyi without disclosing any names.

“There is a lot that’s been said about the eleventh Parliament. What’s for sure is that in my view, because I have been leading one side of the House, honestly it has not lived to the expectations . The vision here is to be a people centered Parliament. As somebody who has been in this house for five years, I admit, we have not been. Right from kind of laws we have passed, to the corruption that has been in this Parliament,” he added.

However, with the ruling party dwarfing the opposition as far as number of seats are concerned, Ssenyonyi retorted that the ball is in the ruling party’s hands to choose those who have the country at heart.

“What’s for sure is that our colleagues on the NRM side have got majority of the numbers. What that means is that the Speaker and Deputy Speaker get to come from their side.

Asked about his choice for Speaker and deputy Speaker of Parliament, Senyonyi replied, “It's our hope is that our colleagues in the NRM who have the majority give us leaders that are really people centered, concerned about the people and leaders that are going to be accountable.”