Uganda’s 12th Parliament is slowly taking shape after more than 530 elected legislators officially swore in and prepared to begin their legislative duties. However, despite the excitement surrounding the new parliamentary term, operations cannot fully begin until the country gets a new Speaker and Deputy Speaker, positions that are already attracting intense political calculations ahead of the May 25 vote at Kololo Independence Grounds.
As political camps continue to strategize behind closed doors, the transition within the opposition has already started unfolding publicly. Nakawa West legislator Joel Ssenyonyi officially handed over all property attached to the office of the Leader of Opposition, bringing his term in the influential role to an end after serving since 2024.
The handover exercise involved returning office keys, an official government vehicle, and security personnel assigned to the office back to the Clerk to Parliament. The process symbolized the beginning of a fresh parliamentary chapter at a time when both the ruling side and opposition are repositioning themselves for influence in the new House.
Ssenyonyi leaves the office with many political observers praising his performance despite being a first-time Member of Parliament. Before rising to become Leader of Opposition, he had already built a strong reputation while chairing the COSASE committee, where he gained national attention for his fearless handling of investigations into government institutions and public expenditure.
His leadership style in Parliament earned him admiration from supporters who viewed him as vocal, energetic, and uncompromising on accountability issues. During his tenure as opposition leader, he consistently challenged government decisions and remained one of the most visible voices pushing for transparency and better governance.
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