A group of opposition Members of Parliament from the Acholi Sub-region has initiated consultations with their constituents regarding their recent decision to collaborate with the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) government.
This move follows significant criticism the legislators faced for their discreet negotiations with the government after a meeting with President Museveni at the State House in Entebbe on March 13.
During that meeting, the MPs agreed to set aside political differences in order to address poverty and foster socioeconomic transformation within the Acholi Sub-region.
At the first consultative meeting held with elites and opinion leaders in Gulu City on Monday, Martin Ojara Mapenduzi, the MP for Bardege-Layibi Division, emphasized that their decision was not an act of betrayal but rather an attempt to engage constructively with the government.
He acknowledged that while they initially planned to consult a broad audience before meeting with the president, they opted to first present their document outlining a proposed course of action to address challenges in Acholi and await the president’s response.
Mapenduzi highlighted that discussions with the government were prompted by reflections among legislators on the socioeconomic conditions of the sub-region, particularly the persistent lag in development despite various government interventions.
Okin PP Ojara, the legislator for Chua West and head of the delegation, defended their decision to precede without prior consultations with local opinion leaders.
He described the meeting with President Museveni as a “usual engagement.”
Ojara added that the document presented to the president includes proposals for reparations and compensation for loss of lives and cattle, focusing on themes such as truth-telling, harmony, and transitional justice.
As the consultations continue, the opposition MPs aims to gather diverse opinions from their constituents to inform their ongoing dialogue with the government.
By Francis Lubega
15th April 2025
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