Leader of the Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi, has announced that the opposition’s alternative budget for the 2025/26 financial year will prioritize the fight against corruption, which he described as the biggest obstacle to Uganda’s progress.
Speaking during the opposition Caucus meeting at Parliament, where members discussed Alternative Priority Areas for the upcoming financial year, Ssenyonyi emphasized that corruption is the primary reason Ugandans are often denied essential services under the pretext of insufficient funds, despite widespread reports of stolen public money.
“This theme speaks directly to the core of Uganda’s most pressing challenges. Corruption remains the single biggest roadblock to our nation’s progress. Year after year, Ugandans are told that resources are scarce, yet we continue to see trillions lost to mismanagement, inflated contracts, and outright theft. These are not just abstract figures. They represent stolen opportunities for our children, our communities, and our future,” Ssenyonyi stated.
The 2025/26 opposition budgeting process is guided by the theme, “Combating Corruption: The Sure Way to Effective Service Delivery.”
Ssenyonyi urged fellow opposition MPs to remain steadfast in exposing corruption, despite facing criticism and resistance.
“We must understand that those in power will frequently try to denigrate us. They will accuse us of being overly critical or disruptive. But let me tell you something: if standing up for fairness makes us disruptive, we should wear that label with pride. If demanding responsibility is interpreted as complaining, then let us complain louder and more strongly because if we do not speak up for the people of Uganda, then who will?” he said.
He further emphasized that the workshop was not just another routine meeting but an opportunity for the Opposition to reflect and strategize on how to effectively fulfill its responsibilities.
“As the Opposition, our duty is not simply to challenge the government but to offer real solutions. Ugandans are looking for leadership, for answers, and hope. Today, we will hear from experts, including the Parliamentary Budget Office and civil society actors, who will deepen our understanding of the budget and its implications. But more importantly, we will define the alternative policies and priorities we aim to champion in 2025/26. We must craft policies that redirect public funds toward effective service delivery and away from wasteful expenditure and corruption,” Ssenyonyi added.
Sarah Bireete, Executive Director of the Center for Constitutional Governance, commended the Opposition for its efforts in fighting corruption through parliamentary accountability committees. However, she urged them to focus more on recovering stolen public funds rather than relying on prosecutions that often yield no results.
“I know that LOP and your Committees are doing great work. What remains to be seen in the work of Parliament is recovery, recovery of lost monies. We know that prosecution does not work in this country. We have rule by law, and government only prosecutes those who oppose it, and protects those that it considers their cadres,” Bireete said.
She further challenged the opposition to go beyond simply exposing corrupt individuals and referring them to the police, advocating instead for direct action to reclaim stolen funds.
“It would be good for the Leader of Opposition and your shadow cabinet to move beyond handing over people to police and ordering recovery instead. I think that would benefit the taxpayer more than other monies we spend on fake prosecutions that end in nothing, and that’s also a loss of taxpayers’ money,” she added.
