‘Only 50 MPs speak in Parliament’—Ssemujju blasts silent legislators

KAMPALA - The Member of Parliament for Kira Municipality, Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, has criticised fellow legislators for remaining silent on issues affecting their electorates, describing this as a sign of poor democratic governance that Ugandans have endured since 1986.

“We have a total of 556 members, but about 50 MPs are the only ones doing their work, while others are just shirts chilling in chairs,” Ssemujju said at the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) party headquarters at Plot 6, Katonga Road in Nakasero, Kampala.

He was speaking after picking nomination forms to express his interest in re-election, following 15 years in Parliament.

Ssemujju said the failure of MPs to actively engage in legislative duties demonstrates the challenges faced by Ugandan voters, whose representatives are expected to address the country’s pressing issues.

“We need to select good MPs to legislate in Parliament if Ugandans are to access service delivery for the taxes they pay,” he said.

“You should understand that all the decisions affecting your lives are taken by the executive headed by President Yoweri Museveni, who has spent 40 years here, and a Parliament full of dumb MPs.”

The PFF acting spokesperson said he is seeking re-election not to earn a salary, but to continue advocating for the rights of Ugandans still trapped in poverty and facing poor health services, unemployment among youth and women, low-quality education, underdeveloped infrastructure, and undemocratic governance.

“Our major aim now is not to earn salaries in Parliament but to continue fighting to realise the value of taxes paid by poor Ugandans and to end the luxurious spending by State House, which disregards the suffering of the majority who seek change,” he insisted.

Unemployment still high in Kira

Kira Municipality, with a population estimated at 462,900 in 2020, has experienced a high annual growth rate of 6.68% between 2014 and 2020. Yet, unemployment remains a major issue.

“Uganda's overall unemployment rate in the working-age group (18–30) is quite high, at 57.1%. The country also faces a significant youth unemployment issue, with 42% of those aged 18–30 not in employment, education, or training (NEET),” Ssemujju noted.

Buhweju County MP Francis Mwijukye, who accompanied Ssemujju, said they would confront President Museveni in the election as part of a broader struggle by the oppressed against their oppressors.

“Forget about our different political formations in the opposition. We have only two factions of Ugandans: those who are oppressed and those oppressing Ugandans,” Mwijukye said.

Other leaders who expressed interest in contesting on the PFF ticket included David Sekiziyivu Muya (Namugongo Division chairperson), Mariam Sheebah Namudu (Bweyogerere Division chairperson and Bukasa parish councillor), and Sarah Nandutu, a resident of Masozi Village in Bukasa Parish, Bweyogerere Division.

PFF sets vetting guidelines for local govt flag bearers

Michael Kabaziguruka, chairperson of the PFF Electoral Commission, said that any person qualifies to contest as a party flag bearer for the position of sub-county chairperson, town council mayor, division chairperson, and LC3 or LC5 councillor upon presenting a valid party card, proof of Ugandan nationality with a National Identification card, and nomination by one party member and five seconders from the relevant electoral area.

“A person is not qualified if he is of unsound mind, holding or acting in an office connected to electoral conduct, or a traditional or cultural leader as defined in clause 6 of Article 246 of the 1995 Constitution,” he stated.

He added that individuals under a sentence of death or imprisonment exceeding nine months, or public officers still in government employment, are not eligible unless they have formally resigned.