Parliament through the Deputy Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oulanyah has acknowledged the changes made to the opposition team in Parliament.
Oulanyah, in his communication to Parliament on Wednesday Oulanyah said he was in receipt of a letter written by the Forum for Democratic Change-FDC Secretary General Nathan Nandala Mafabi which communicated Betty Aol Ochan, the Gulu Woman MP as the new Leader of Opposition (LOP) among other changes.
The other appointments confirmed include that of Kiira Municipality MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda as the Opposition Chief Whip and Harold Tonny Muhindo the Bukonzo East MP as his deputy.
Also confirmed are Rukungiri Municipality MP Roland Mugume Kaginda appointed as a member of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Francis Mwijukye as a Parliament Commissioner, Mukono Municipality MP Betty Nambooze as a representative at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA).
The others are Busongora North MP William Nzoghu appointed as a Pan African Parliament (PAP) representative while Mbale Municipality MP Jack Wamai Wamanga is sent to represent FDC at the African Caribbean and Pacific Parliament (ACP).
Oulanyah also confirmed the opposition changes at the committee level highlighting the appointment of Budadiri West MP Nathan Nandala Mafabi as new Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Agago Woman MP Franca Judith Akello as Chairperson of the Local Government Accounts Committee, Kawempe South MP Mubarak Munyagwa as Chairperson of the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE).
However, Oulanyah said that the status quo on two positions of opposition backbench Parliamentary Commissioner and representative to the Pan African Parliament are to remain until the necessary steps for changes are followed.
The positions are currently occupied by Dokolo Woman MP Cecilia Ogwal and Agago North MP Prof. Morris Ogenga Latigo respectively.
Oulanyah said that the speaker’s office will make an official communication on the two positions.
Meanwhile, Mubarak Munyagwa is already beaming in excitement following his appointment as COSASE chairperson.
Munyagwa said at the weekend that he would take his work seriously adding he will not just excite the public by grilling officials and then abandoning matters along the way something he said was common with his predecessor.
“I can’t match him (Katuntu) in anything. He is a senior lawyer who can even be appointed chief justice. However, he was also at a certain time given an opportunity to exhibit what his capabilities are. What I have and he doesn’t have is consistency,” he argued.
Meanwhile, Betty Aol Ochan has made her maiden speech on her first day as Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Parliament, urging fellow opposition MPs to respect each other, embrace change and dialogue.