Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa has proposed the formation of a reconciliation committee comprising members from the government and opposition to address growing political tensions and incidents of violence involving legislators at the burials of their colleagues.
Tayebwa made the proposal during Tuesday’s plenary sitting, expressing concern that political divisions had reached a point where Members of Parliament could not safely attend the funerals of fellow legislators.
“If we are so divided to the extent that we cannot bury each other, where are we going as a nation?” Tayebwa asked.
The proposal follows an incident at the burial of former Busiro South MP Charles Matovu, where Kibuku County MP Herbert Tom Kinobere (NRM) was chased away by angry mourners. The current Busiro South MP, Kenan Opio, also reportedly stayed away from the burial for fear of his safety.
Tayebwa proposed that the Government Chief Whip and the Opposition Chief Whip each constitute a five-member team to engage in dialogue and explore ways of easing tensions among MPs and their supporters.
“It can start with us, Honourable colleagues. We can show the country that we can talk together, we can reconcile together, we can love each other, despite what goes on politically,” he said.
He said MPs should be able to support colleagues during bereavement without suspicion or fear of being attacked because of their political affiliations.
“I need to find it safe to stand with a colleague. And I need a colleague also to find it safe to associate with me because I’m a colleague in the House,” he said.
State Minister for Public Service Lydia Wanyoto told the House that MPs had faced hostility while attending funerals, adding that Kinobere’s vehicle had been stoned and vandalised during Matovu burial incident.
She said MPs who publicly express condolences are sometimes misunderstood, insulted and accused of celebrating the deaths of their colleagues.
Minister of Health Dr. Chris Baryomunsi asked MPs to rise above political differences, saying their responsibilities as national leaders should take precedence over partisan affiliations.
“Me being in NRM and you being in the opposition party should not make us enemies,” he said.
The Minister for ICT and National Guidance, Kasule Lumumba, supported the proposal, arguing that it would help the country heal from tensions that had persisted since the January elections.
“We need to open a new page and move together as human beings,” she said, adding that leaders had a responsibility to spearhead reconciliation.
“It’s important that we, the leaders of the time, carry this responsibility,” she said.
Mukono Municipality MP Betty Nambooze suggested that discussions on national dialogue should extend beyond Parliament. She argued that chasing people away from burials was contrary to Ugandan cultural values.
“It is not within our culture that a person dies and others celebrate. It is also not within our culture that one goes for burial and he is chased,” she said.
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