By Joseph Mary Buwule.
KAMPALA, Uganda— Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa has proposed the formation of a reconciliation committee bringing together members of the government and opposition to address growing political tensions and prevent further confrontations involving legislators and their supporters.
Tayebwa made the proposal during Tuesday’s plenary sitting, expressing concern over incidents in which political differences have spilled into burial ceremonies for former and serving legislators.
He questioned how the country could achieve political coexistence if leaders and their supporters could no longer safely attend the funerals of colleagues belonging to different political camps.
“If we are so divided to the extent that we cannot bury each other, where are we going as a nation?” Tayebwa asked.
His remarks followed an incident at the burial of former Busiro South MP Charles Matovu, where Kibuku County MP Herbert Tom Kinobere and other mourners perceived to be aligned with the National Resistance Movement (NRM) were reportedly confronted.
According to police, the incident occurred on October 25 at Kungu-Lutale along Nakawuka Road in Wakiso District. Police said Kinobere’s vehicle was damaged, including having its tyres deflated, while several mourners were targeted during the confrontation. Twenty suspects were subsequently arrested as investigations continued.
Tayebwa said such incidents were a worrying indication of the extent to which political divisions were affecting relationships among leaders and communities.
He proposed that the Government Chief Whip and the Opposition Chief Whip each appoint a five-member team to engage in dialogue and explore practical measures for reducing tensions among Members of Parliament and their supporters.
“It can start with us, Honourable colleagues. We can show the country that we can talk together, we can reconcile together, we can love each other, despite what goes on politically,” he said.
Tayebwa said political disagreements should not prevent MPs from standing with one another during moments of grief.
He argued that legislators should be able to attend the burial of a colleague, offer condolences to the bereaved family and provide support without fear of being attacked or being viewed with suspicion because of their political affiliation.
“I need to find it safe to stand with a colleague. And I need a colleague also to find it safe to associate with me because I’m a colleague in the House,” he said.
MPs Raise Concern Over Hostility
State Minister for Public Service Lydia Wanyoto told Parliament that legislators had experienced hostility while attending funerals, citing the Matovu burial as an example.
Wanyoto said Kinobere’s vehicle was stoned and vandalised during the incident, adding that MPs who publicly express condolences can sometimes be misunderstood, insulted or accused of associating with the wrong political camp.
She said such incidents could undermine the ability of leaders to work together and maintain relationships across political lines.
Minister of Health Dr Chris Baryomunsi called on MPs to rise above political differences and remember their broader responsibilities as national leaders.
Baryomunsi said political affiliation should not turn leaders into enemies, stressing that MPs from different parties remain colleagues in Parliament and have a responsibility to serve Ugandans.
“Me being in NRM and you being in the opposition party should not make us enemies,” he said.
Lumumba Backs Reconciliation
The Minister for ICT and National Guidance, Kasule Lumumba, supported Tayebwa’s proposal, saying dialogue could help address political tensions that have persisted since the January elections.
Lumumba said the country needed to move beyond political divisions and create space for leaders and citizens to interact peacefully despite their political differences.
“We need to open a new page and move together as human beings,” she said.
She said political leaders had a responsibility to take the lead in rebuilding trust and promoting reconciliation.
“It’s important that we, the leaders of the time, carry this responsibility,” she added.
Nambooze Calls for Broader National Dialogue
Mukono Municipality MP Betty Nambooze said efforts to promote reconciliation should not be confined to Parliament.
She suggested that national dialogue should involve a wider section of Ugandan society, arguing that political differences should not interfere with cultural practices surrounding death and burial.
Nambooze said Ugandan cultural values traditionally require communities to come together to mourn the dead and support bereaved families.
“It is not within our culture that a person dies and others celebrate. It is also not within our culture that one goes for burial and he is chased,” she said.
Police Call for Tolerance
The debate in Parliament comes as police continue investigations into the Matovu burial incident.
Police have urged Ugandans to respect mourners regardless of their political affiliation and to refrain from violence, intimidation and destruction of property. Police said funerals bring together relatives, friends, colleagues and acquaintances whose relationships with the deceased may extend beyond political affiliations.
The proposed reconciliation committee would therefore seek to create a platform through which MPs from the government and opposition can discuss their differences, rebuild working relationships and encourage their supporters to embrace peaceful political engagement.
For Tayebwa, the process should begin within Parliament, with legislators demonstrating that political disagreement does not have to result in hostility or prevent leaders from supporting one another during moments of bereavement.
The proposal now puts the responsibility on the Government and Opposition Chief Whips to consider the proposed teams and initiate discussions aimed at easing political tensions among MPs and their supporters.