Accept To Be Advised, Mpuuga Tells Ssenyonyi
“If my young brother the Leader of the Opposition does not want to keep leading himself and his homestead, he should accept to be advised,” Mpuuga said, “anybody who is not advisable cannot afford to lead people.”
Mpuuga made the remarks while speaking to journalists at Kitovu Cathedral in Masaka on Tuesday.
“If you are advised and take advice different from your position, it is not a weakness because it is one of the attributes that make a strong leader. Whenever you say that when you get ashamed of being advised, you will find leadership very difficult to be shouldered like a sharp sword.”
Mpuuga’s comments came in response to questions about the current state of the opposition, particularly regarding the disagreement among opposition MPs on whether or not to attend the regional parliamentary sittings.
The MPs are divided over a directive by Ssenyonyi to boycott the sittings, citing waste of taxpayers’ money without involving them.
Regional Sittings: Ssenyonyi’s ‘Decree Backfires’ As MPs Defy Boycott
Mpuuga expressed disappointment in the opposition’s disunity, saying it was unfortunate that they could not agree on such a crucial matter.
He, however, revealed that he would attend the sittings which would start tomorrow in Gulu city as a Parliamentary Commissioner, citing his responsibilities to look after MPs and gather people’s views.
According to Mpuuga, attending the regional sittings would provide valuable insights into the federal system of governance, which could inform his planned constitutional and electoral reforms, emphasizing the importance of listening to people’s concerns and articulating regional issues.
“Through regional parliamentary sittings, Parliament is going to do a pre-test to the federal system where people in a given region are given the opportunity to articulate their issues which would be reflected in the national budget when we want to share power,” he said.
Mpuuga advised Ssenyonyi to be open to advice, saying it is a sign of strength, not weakness. He cautioned that refusing to take advice would make leadership difficult.
Ultimately, Mpuuga believes that attending the regional sittings will provide an opportunity for urgent reforms within power sharing, allowing for a more effective emphasis on regional issues.
“To us who need urgent reforms within power sharing, we have an opportunity because some issues cannot be worked out when we are in Kampala. Whenever we have tried to do so, we have just kept our mouths hot instead of emphasizing regional issues.”