The Leader of the Opposition in Parliament (LOP), Mathias Mpuuga has said the state’s failure to explain the whereabouts of the opposition supporters is an indication that the government is no longer in charge and the country might slide back to the days of anarchy.
Addressing worshippers who turned up for the Christmas mass at Kitovu Cathedral in Masaka City, Mpuuga narrated to the Congregation of the pain the family members of missing opposition supporters go through and the need for concerted efforts to ensure the families get justice.
Before mass started, names of the missing persons were read out and dedicated to God in prayer and the mood in the cathedral turned sombre.
The LOP narrated a conversation with John Bosco Kibalama’s wife a few days ago and failure by government to respond to calls by opposition to disclose the whereabouts of the missing colleagues.
Mpuuga said he received a phone call from John Nkonge Kibalama’s wife, inquiring whether the government had made any disclosures in regard to the whereabouts of the people who were abducted and disappeared by the state.
John Bosco Kibalama tops the list of 25 abductees that the LOP sent to churches across the country with a special prayer request and an invitation to the clergy to speak out against abductions and other forms of human rights violations.
“When I told her that the Prime Minister [Robina Nabbanja] and her team were a no show for the meeting, she broke down and told me, “let me gather courage and tell the children that their dad was murdered”, Mpuuga said.
Kibalama has been missing since June 3, 2019.
The Bishop of Masaka Catholic Diocese, Serverus Jjumba and the Buddu county chief (Pookino) condemned the continued abduction and detention without of trial of supposed opposition supporters.
Mpuuga also noted that intrapolitical and electoral reforms top the Opposition’s priority list for 2023, and announced that the Opposition platform in Parliament will soon roll out a program for countrywide consultations.
He rallied the church to support efforts by the opposition to amend the Constitution in oder to allign it with the current aspirations of the citizens.
