LOP blasts journalists, Opposition to continue plenary boycott

The Leader of Opposition (LoP) Hon Mathias Mpuuga, has blasted journalists over what her termed as a ‘systematic campaign of blackmailing the Opposition into returning for plenary sittings in Parliament’.

He alleged that many journalists are on pay checks (to blackmail the opposition) but they should not divert the Opposition from the fight to end killings and human rights violations in Uganda.

“I also see some attempts at blackmailing me and my office, I follow it, please take your pay check but report what we say. Do not misrepresent me and my office, if you have any questions kindly raise them, I have never failed to make a response even if it is really flat. Do not attempt at blackmail because I never buckle at blackmail. Otherwise you are not helping the cause of citizens for you to divert us into small things.” Mpuuga said sternly.

He announced that although plenary sittings are set to resume tomorrow, and there are plans by government to respond to the issues raised, the Opposition will stay away from the proceedings until the government officially communicates to him detailing how the issues raised will be addressed and the time frame within which they will be resolved.

“After that meeting with Gov’t, no progress had been made, save for the a transitory commitment with no time frame to the effect that they are ready to respond to the issues we raised. We are out of plenary sittings until we have received response and there is no new development since then,” added Mpuuga.

He laughed off claims that the boycott is not paying off because the government has refused to oblige by the demands and business at Parliament has continued normally.

“They (journalists) purport to know me, yet they don’t know me. That is the danger and mistakes that people make, purporting to know people they do not know and they are forgivable for their ignorance. I don’t do anything by cram work, those who have known me, know that I respond to issues depending on how they were raised,” said Mpuuga.

“I have some level of imagination & that is how I handle them, so ask them to drop their cram work. I assess situations and supply answers depending on the conditions prevailing and if anybody tries to cram me, they will crash. I am not linear by the way I work,” added Mpuuga.

The LoP asked the public not to stay calm saying that the Opposition is going to use all tactics to ensure total success in their pursuit.

He said that his team is on course and that people should not mistake government’s silence as comfort noting that the Executive is hurting!

“If the Executive is adamant and obstinate, our duty as Opposition is to insist and the instance can be various. We are engaging the right gear and we are not about to change it. If necessity arises for us to change the gear, we will assess the feasibility of that engagement, but at the moment as their team leader, I am content with how we are moving,” he explained.