Political strategist Egesa Ronald has criticized opposition members of Parliament, questioning their commitment to reform and accusing them of failing to push for meaningful changes in the legislature.
In a statement on X, Egesa argued that opposition MPs missed a key opportunity to mobilize the public to demand a reduction in the size of Parliament.
He said such a move could have followed the government’s earlier rationalization of agencies, which led to the consolidation or elimination of organizations such as the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) and the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA).
“If the eloquent elites we have had in Parliament, especially the opposition, were as smart as they want people to believe, they would have mobilized the public to demand for a reduction in the size of Parliament when President Museveni was rationalizing government agencies,” Egesa said.
He also questioned why opposition MPs did not advocate for merging constituencies and districts, noting that this could have addressed issues of gerrymandering, particularly in rural areas.
“The opposition MPs from Buganda should have led this exercise because they are the ones most disadvantaged by gerrymandering in the rural areas. They were silent because they felt safe being co-opted to the dining table,” he added.
Egesa accused opposition leaders of misleading the public, saying, “They have been gaslighting Ugandans, especially opposition supporters.”
His remarks come amid growing debate over the size and efficiency of Uganda’s Parliament, with critics questioning whether the legislature is proportionate to the population and able to effectively serve its governance role.