Opposition Legislators to Boycott President Museveni's Speech over Human Rights Concerns.

Opposition legislators have decided to boycott President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni's speech to Members of Parliament, scheduled for Thursday 16^th March 2023 at Kololo Independence Grounds in Kampala.

The decision was announced by Medard Lubega Sseggona, the Busiro East Constituency representative and Shadow Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs.

The decision was made due to concerns about corruption and human rights violations, including arbitrary arrests, detention, and enforced disappearances of political opponents.

The Speaker of Parliament had previously informed lawmakers of the President's planned address on Thursday, March 16, 2023, at 2:00 pm.

Since the general elections in January 2021, the opposition has provided a list of over 400 missing persons who are believed to be supporters of the National Unity Platform (NUP). As of December 2022, 200 people on the list are still missing.

During a parliamentary session on Tuesday, Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, the Kira Municipality Member of Parliament, expressed opposition to the President's invitation to the House to Kololo. He cited concerns that the MPs are often embarrassed by security personnel who confiscate their electronic devices.

In response to Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda's opposition to the President's invitation to Kololo, Speaker Among defended the President by stating that the venue was not chosen by him, but rather by the leadership of Parliament. She explained that Kololo was deemed an ideal location to host all 555 Members of Parliament.

According to Article 101(2) of the Constitution, the President, in consultation with the Speaker, is mandated to address Parliament from time to time on any matter of national importance. The President is to be heard by the House in silence.

The last time President Museveni addressed the House under this article was on June 20, 2018, when he spoke about the state of security in the country.

There are currently 118 opposition Members of Parliament in the House, representing various parties including the National Unity Platform (NUP), Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Democratic Party (DP), Uganda People's Congress (UPC), Justice Forum, and People's Progressive Party (PPP).