Bobi’s EAC Games’ Boycott Directive Catches Ssenyonyi Off Guard: LoP To Miss Out On Shs46m Per-diem

Nakawa West MP (NUP), and the Leader of Opposition in Parliament (LoP) Joel Ssenyonyi finds himself at the center of a dramatic turn of events, with his volleyball ambitions and financial expectations to the tune of a whopping Shs46, 291, 000 in per diem, taking a surprising hit.

This comes after Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu alias Bobi Wine, the president of the National Unity Platform (NUP), the leading opposition political party, issued a directive to all its Members of Parliament (MPs) to boycott the upcoming East African Inter-Parliamentary games, describing the event as a wasteful expenditure of resources.

The games, scheduled to take place in December 2024 in Mombasa, Kenya, aim to foster collaboration and bonding among East African Community (EAC) member states’ legislatures.

The NUP’s decision comes after weeks of training by Members of Parliament and parliamentary staff in various sporting disciplines, including football, netball, and volleyball. However, Bobi, has deemed the event a frivolous use of taxpayer money, especially when more pressing issues demand attention.

Sources privy to goings on in the newest party reveal that the decision was made to maintain consistency in the opposition’s stance against wasteful spending.

The NUP boycotted parliamentary regional sitting sessions in Gulu in August, citing similar concerns. Now, they argue that the funds allocated for the Inter-Parliamentary games could be better utilized to address pressing issues like supporting medical interns or aiding victims of the Kiteezi landfill.

The boycott directive affects over 100 sportsmen and women, including Members of Parliament and staff, who were set to participate in the games. Each participant was entitled to a substantial per diem, with ordinary Members of Parliament receiving $720 per night, while the Leader of the Opposition earning $890 per night.

In a surprising twist, the LoP, Ssenyonyi, who has been training in volleyball, is caught in a cobweb of the very directive he was instructed by his combative boss to convey to the people he leads in Parliament.

As the NUP stands firm in its decision, attention turns to the government’s response and the potential implications for regional cooperation. Will the boycott pave the way for more frugal spending, or will it hinder essential collaboration among EAC member states?