Members of Parliamentary under the Acholi Group led by their chairperson and Kilak North MP, Hon Anthony Akol have noted that they had key issues of their constituencies that needed to be addressed during Tuesday plenary sitting that was boycott by opposition.
The MPs were ridiculed by the Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Mathias Mpuuga, for refusing to join the rest of opposition legislators in a move that was meant to make a statement about human rights violations.
“We do not condone human rights violations and are with the Opposition in the boycott. However, the matter of the longstanding land conflict in Apaa, Amuru district and the issue of cattle rustling in Acholi which was debated in the House could not see us miss the sitting of the House” Akol said.
He added that they also needed to hear an update about the Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Oulanyah who is receiving treatment abroad, and that it is unfair for them to be accused of condoning torture, and yet they were representatives of their different constituencies.
“We had three issues which were very key, unfortunately, I saw an attack on me even after we consulted the Leader of Opposition,” he added.
“Even after we did the consultation in the morning with the Leader of Opposition who said no you can’t attend, we said no, we are going to attend. Because our voters want to hear what is going to be decided by Parliament about their suffering. And the attack was not friendly to me.”
Mpuuga accused Akol of going against the Opposition decision of boycotting the house.
Last week, the Opposition announced a boycott over torture and arbitrary arrests citing the arrest of legislators, Hon Muhammad Ssegirinya of Kawempe North and Hon Allan Ssewanyana, the Makindye West MP.
Amuru District Woman MP, Hon Lucy Akello said that matters of their constituencies come first, adding that they agreed with the opposition, but simply prioritized their constituency’s concerns.
“When it comes to issues of torture, we speak one language and we appreciate the effort of the Leader of Opposition in spearheading this process. What we are against is the discrimination,” she said.
