Nakawa West Member of Parliament Joel Ssenyonyi has formally handed over instruments of office associated with his tenure as Leader of the Opposition in Uganda’s 11th Parliament, marking a transition as the country ushers in the 12th Parliament.
Speaking shortly after being sworn in for a second term as MP, Ssenyonyi clarified that his role as Leader of the Opposition effectively ended with the conclusion of the previous parliamentary term.
He emphasized that the new Parliament is yet to constitute its leadership, making it necessary for former office holders to relinquish official privileges tied to their previous positions.
“I am also handing over the government car that is attached to the office of the Leader of the Opposition, and the security attached to that office, because as we speak right now, I am not the Leader of the Opposition,” Ssenyonyi said.
He noted that his leadership applied strictly to the 11th Parliament, adding that the 12th Parliament is a new institutional phase that must independently establish its leadership structures.
Uganda’s parliamentary transition process requires that key offices, including the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and Leader of the Opposition, be elected or appointed afresh at the start of each new term.
Ssenyonyi pointed out that until these positions are filled, no individual can claim the authority or privileges attached to them.
“The 12th Parliament does not yet have a Speaker, a Deputy Speaker, Leader of the Opposition, and even Committee Chairpersons,” he explained.
“So that is why it is important that we hand over all of these attachments that come with our offices.”
His remarks signal a broader call for accountability and institutional order during the transition period.
Ssenyonyi expressed hope that other leaders who held senior positions in the previous Parliament would follow suit and return official resources allocated to their offices.
“I’m hoping that my colleagues, the one who has been Speaker, the one who has been Deputy Speaker, will also hand over,” he added.
In a social media post shared after the ceremony, Ssenyonyi confirmed that he had returned official vehicles, security detail, and office keys linked to the Leader of the Opposition’s office.
He said the items had been handed over to the Director of the LOP’s Office for onward transmission to the Clerk to Parliament.
“This marks the end of my tenure as Leader of the Opposition of the 11th Parliament,” he wrote.
Ssenyonyi’s actions come at a time when attention is shifting to the formation of leadership in the 12th Parliament, with political parties expected to nominate candidates for key positions in the coming days.
The selection of a new Leader of the Opposition will be particularly significant, as it shapes the direction of parliamentary oversight and government accountability.