Hon. Mathias Mpuuga is only three months into his new assignment as the Leader of Opposition (LOP) in Parliament but he admits that he has pretty much mustered his job and the surroundings.

Mpuuga, the Nyendo-Mukungwe Division Member of Parliament, appeared on the Morning Breeze, a programme on NBS TV on Wednesday morning to share his experience of leading six political parties and working with the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) in the August House.

As is traditional in Parliament, the leader of opposition is typically appointed from the party with the majority, which is currently the National Unity Platform (NUP).

Explaining how he started his work as LOP, Mpuuga said: 

“Attention is on me because I am the Leader of Opposition and from a young party, NUP. I had to map the critical things at the beginning. I am trying to do what is feasible given the space and logistics to make that huge difference. When you assume this nature of office, the most important thing is to understand the length and breadth of that office.”

The Leader of Opposition emphasized: “You can only do [so] much when you have a team. The first thing for me was to come up with a team that will lead the rest. We had to identify a team from the six parties. I have a competent team heading the four major accountability committees, this for me, is critical. We have been mapping territory.”

Asked what he makes of the expectations from the voters, Mpuuga was quick to explain that the public indeed expects leadership from him and that he and his team are ready to go.

“We have assembled the tools to follow through with the promises we made. You’re as good as your preparation. I work differently; my eyes are on the output. The Parliamentary platform is a different platform,” he said.

The soft-spoken LOP elaborated: “I believe in preparedness. You don’t wake up every day to change your character unless you are plastic. I am not plastic. My work methods are a product of good orientation. I am learning and unlearning depending on what I confront.”

Mpuuga, however, admitted that whereas they were facing some challenges, he chose to view them with a positive outlook.

“We are aware of what can be navigated in the House (Parliament). We are also aware of our limitations. I only have challenges at the moment; they are not failures. The challenges can be addressed. Some of the challenges to get to where we want are logistical. We are trying to negotiate with the key stakeholders in the House to address these,” he said.

He added: “Facilitating the six opposition parties in Parliament is challenging. The tendency in Parliament is to imagine that the opposition is one party. I have the challenge of ensuring that all these parties are properly facilitated. The opposition is a broad spectrum of views that must be consolidated to move Parliament.”

Mpuuga further empathized: “These are hard times to be a leader. When democracy is shrinking, when the economy is shrinking, every leader at all levels is going to have it rough. The most affected people during the distribution of the Covid-19 relief fund were the LC1s.

Mpuuga told viewers he has an excellent working relationship with MPs from the ruling party, NRM.

“The workings of Parliament are different. Parliament is structured. If you have a motion or bill, you have to go to the Speaker not come running to the floor of Parliament. This country is about the future of our children and grandchildren. The threats to NRM are equally threats to the other parties. If you’re out there to make a difference, then Leader of Opposition is an enormous job,” he said in conclusion.