The Democratic Party (DP) has expressed dissatisfaction with the current Leader of Opposition in Parliament (LOP), Joel Ssenyonyi of the National Unity Platform (NUP) party, for not involving the DP Members of Parliament (MPs) in the formulation of the alternative budget.

While speaking to members of the press on April 9, 2024, the Uganda Young Democrats President, Ismail Kirya, who also doubles as the Democratic Party Spokesperson, said that the DP chief whip and MPs were never consulted when formulating the alternative budget.

“We want the Leader of Opposition to engage all opposition political parties and not just do things as NUP; we want to request the opposition to always engage all the opposition in all the budgeting processes; the opposition alternative budget should have been all inclusive and engaging of all opposition parties,” Kirya said.

On April 8, 2024, LOP Ssenyonyi presented an alternative budget worth Ugx 43 trillion for the financial year 2024/2025 after the government requested a budget worth Ugx 58 trillion for the same financial year.

However, Kirya appreciated LOP for tabling an alternative budget that saves over Ugx15 trillion of the tax payers’ money but insisted that, as DP, they were not consulted and not even involved in the whole budgeting process.

“Previously, the secretary generals would be invited to be part of the launch of the alternative budget, so if they are not involved, how do you expect them to defend the budget? Let’s engage all stakeholders so that we don’t look divided. It’s high time to learn from the LOPs and see how they handled such issues,” Kirya added.

The Uganda Parliament consists of 109 opposition members, with the NUP having a majority of 57 MPs. The DP has nine MPs, who are also mandated to contribute to the opposition’s priorities in parliament, just like other MPs from other opposition political parties.