Mpuuga proposed a reduction in electricity tariffs for domestic consumers by at least 200 Shillings per unit.
Mpuuga on Thursday presented the Opposition’s position on the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2022 that is currently being considered by Parliament’s Environment and Natural Resources Committee.
Led by the Leader of Opposition Mathias Mpuuga, a section of MPs in the presence of a Senior Sergeant –at –Arms, Godfrey Kidi launched the censure motion signing exercise. Out of the total 529 MPs in the 11th Parliament, the Opposition requires MP 176 signatures for the censure motion to succeed.
Led by Leader of Opposition-LOP Mathias Mpuuga, members from different Opposition Political Parties on Thursday last week walked out of parliament in protest of reported torture of citizens by security operatives, detention without trial, and missing supporters.
Those who walked out are from the biggest Opposition party, the National Unity Platform-NUP, Forum for Democratic Change –FDC, Uganda People’s Congress –UPC, Democratic Party –DP, and Justice Forum –JEEMA.
Mathias Mpuuga, the Leader of Opposition led the walkout and was followed by MPs from different opposition political parties after he disagreed with Deputy Speaker, Anita Among regarding the delayed action by the government on the continued torture of citizens, detention without trial, and abductions.
Mpuuga’s request is carried in a letter dated January 19, in which he highlights that several fuel stations across the country have run out of fuel while those with stock are charging exorbitant prices. He says that there is a looming risk of a country shut down in the event that urgent interventions are not undertaken to address the crisis.
In his statement, Mpuuga noted that education is a key component for social growth, economic development, and transformation. He, however, notes that the COVID-19 pandemic poses serious threats to access to Education in the country and that innovative solutions are needed to support the sector.
Among the interventions proposed by the Opposition is the formation of a joint East African Community Taskforce to develop a common approach towards handling of the Omicron variant.
The Opposition says that the Army should not be allowed any role in the electoral processes over and above those listed under Article 208 and 209 of the Constitution and the Uganda Peoples Defense Forces Act, 2005.
Attorney General, Kiryowa Kiwanuka said that it was an error on the part of the government not to inform the Office of the Speaker but everything is being done to make sure that the legislators are treated within the law.
During the plenary, Mpuuga raised a procedural concern questioning whether the Speaker had been notified about the re-arrests of the MPs. He also noted that the MPs had been denied access to their immediate family and that it cannot be business as normal when such violations are going on.
Mpuuga was appointed into the office by the President of the National Unity Platform Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu after his party emerged as the main opposition group, having won more parliamentary seats than all other opposition groups in the January polls.
The Leader of Opposition told journalists that he has in the first 100 days in the office worked towards uniting the opposition MPs since his position entails promoting togetherness among members from different political parties.
In June, the IMF Executive Board under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement approved a loan to support Uganda's post Covid-19 recovery and increase households’ incomes and inclusive growth by fostering private sector development.
According to the Leader of the Opposition of Parliament Mathias Mpuuga, the Shadow Cabinet has kick-started a process of developing amendments to the Act and other media laws, which he says are draconian.
The Shadow Cabinet is responsible for scrutinizing policies, actions of the government and also offers alternative proposals. It is composed of the majority MPs from the opposition main party in parliament, the National Unity Platform – NUP.
