The government last week pushed into law a controversial bill that is expected to reset the coffee activities in the country
Kampala - The Opposition has openly condemned the government following last week's chaotic scenes in parliament over the contentious Coffee Amendment Bill.
Opposition leaders argue that the events highlight a breakdown of democratic principles and underscore what they describe as the authoritarian nature of President Museveni's administration.
Opposition members are now urging the public to carefully consider the motives of those they elect, questioning whether representatives will serve the party's interests or truly advocate for the people.
In a statement, Joel Ssenyonyi, Leader of the Opposition, said, "We've been warning you repeatedly--things in parliament are deteriorating, and no one seems to be in control, not even the Speaker."
The phrase "The Ayes have it," commonly used to signal the majority vote in parliamentary sessions, has become a symbol of contention for the opposition, who claim it was manipulated during the recent vote.
This phrase, according to the opposition, has taken on new significance as they believe it reveals a flawed legislative process.
"I thought parliament was meant for open debate, but Museveni won't let MPs engage in any real discussion," said MP Paul Lutamaguzi.
"Even some of our colleagues from the ruling NRM were initially with us but were later pressured into submission, allowing the government to secure the vote."
The Opposition claims that government interference violated the separation of powers, a democratic principle they argue has been eroded.
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"We had support from some NRM MPs who agreed to vote with us," Lutamaguzi added.
"But they were summoned and intimidated until the government got its way."
However, Brandon Kintu, spokesperson for the NRM Caucus, dismissed these allegations, stating, "What you saw in parliament is the real democracy we speak about--those with the numbers make the decisions. If the opposition wants change, they need to work harder."
Despite feeling disheartened by recent events, Ssenyonyi believes the opposition has gained the conviction needed to reveal the government's true nature to the public.
"The people can now see how bad things are," he said. "There's only one person in control, and that's not democracy."
: Opposition Criticism, Parliamentary Chaos, Coffee Amendment Bill, Separation of Powers,Museveni Administration
