LOP Ssenyonyi Slams Elections During Tribute to Late MP Isodo

Leader of the Opposition (LOP) Rt. Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi has urged Parliament to demand transparency and accountability from the government and the Electoral Commission regarding the recently concluded electoral exercise.

Ssenyonyi made the remarks during a special sitting of Parliament held to honour the late Ngora Woman MP, Stella Isodo, who died shortly after the election.

In his tribute, the opposition leader said the absence of transparency in election processes fosters suspicion, while lack of accountability discourages citizen participation.

“Without transparency, suspicion grows. Without accountability, participation feels futile.When citizens believe their vote does not count, then leaders like the Honourable Stella Isodo, who is lying here, who gave themselves to striving for a better governance, did so in vain.,” Ssenyonyi said

He argued that citizens lose faith in the value of their vote when they believe the outcome is predetermined.

Ssenyonyi criticized the election management process, describing it as “shambolic” and not worth the billions of shillings spent by taxpayers. Ssenyonyi posed questions on whether the machines were faulty, fake, or deliberately sabotaged, and insisted Parliament must seek answers.

He raised concerns over the failure of biometric voter verification kits, which were procured at a high cost and intended to strengthen the integrity of the election.

“This Parliament passed billions of shillings for the election, but we have been served by a shambolic process that is not worth the money that the taxpayers spent on it. Billions were spent on purchasing biometric voter verification kits, which we affronted as the panache to the vote rigging which we have. These machines failed to function in what some of us think was a deliberate flaw.” he said

He further stated: “How could taxpayer money to that magnitude be thrown down the drain? Did we purchase fake machines? Were the machines alright but were deliberately stopped from working by some schemers? All these are questions that ought to be responded to as we send off our Honourable colleague.”

He urged lawmakers to honour the memory of the late MP not only through words but through action by defending democracy, insisting on transparency, and restoring dignity to political participation.

“I second this motion with the solemn hope that Parliament will honour her memory, not merely with words, but with action,” he said.