The outgoing Leader of Opposition in Uganda's Parliament congratulates his successor and pledges his support. He thanks various institutions and individuals for their support during his tenure. He highlights some of the challenges of leading the opposition, but also achievements made. While he will continue advocating for equality and justice, he passes the role to the new Leader of Opposition to further establish the office and continue checking the government.

1. REMARKS BY THE OUTGOING LEADER OF OPPOSITION TO PARLIAMENT
OF UGANDA
Rt. Hon. Speaker;
Colleagues Members of Parliament,
Happy New Year Colleagues
First and foremost, let me take the earliest opportunity to congratulate my successor
Honorable Wafula Oguttu on his opportunity as new Leader of Opposition.
His appointment cements a culture that we so dearly cherish in Forum for Democratic (FDC)
and desire for our country. The culture of leaders to serve and go, we recently elected a new
party president. It is a mark of a good leader to serve and go. A good leader must not
succumb to cheerleaders and schemers who always call upon him or her to stay on.
I want to assure you Rt. Hon. Speaker and Members that the incoming new Leader of
Opposition is a distinguished gentleman, elder and statesman. I want to assure Honorable
Wafula Oguttu of my total support. Please call on me whenever need arises.
Leading the opposition in Parliament is a very challenging job that requires dedication,
courage and full alertness Tony Blair in the Evening Post recently said, “I really sympathize
with Milbrand- the current LOP of UK. He said he was in that position for 3 years and knows
how hard the job is”. There is pressure to act in a dignified manner, yet our opponents can act
undignifiably, very provocative and almost in a mob justice style.
I am grateful to the Almighty God who gave me good health, wisdom and ability to lead the
Opposition in Parliament for the last two and half years. Special thanks go to the Speaker of
Parliament and the Deputy speaker, Prime Minister, Parliamentary Commission, all Members
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2. of Parliament and staff of Parliament. In the special way, I am highly indebted to the FDC
party and the FDC Party President emeritus Col. Dr. Kiiza Besigye for having entrusted me
with such responsibility to serve my country. It was indeed a great honour for me from the
slopes of Mt. Elgon.
As a leader I had to make sometimes hard and critical decisions; to which I take
responsibility. I have fought for what I believe in. I have tried, to the best of my ability, to
discharge those duties and meet those responsibilities that were entrusted to me. I have
spoken to you in this Parliament as a Leader of Opposition, Chair of both the Public
Accounts Committee and the National Economy Committee in which so many decisions
were made that have shaped the future of this nation. In all the decisions I have made, I have
always tried to do what was best for the nation. During my tenure of office, there have been
various achievements in which we can all be proud of, achievements that represent the
shared efforts of the members of opposition and the entire public. But the challenges ahead
are equally enormous.
I am grateful to the people of Budadri West, who called on me while I was working with
World Bank to quit the juicy job to come back and I am happy to be still serving them since
2001. They have nurtured me as their child from the ‘Mountain Of The sun’, I am grateful to
the people of Bugisu for the opportunity. My initial desire was being a civil servant; I am
now stuck here in politics. This Journey started way back in the 7 th Parliament as a young
legislator, Parliament overwhelmingly elected me the Chairperson National Economy, in 8 th
Parliament I was appointed Chairman PAC and in the 9 th Parliament I have served as the
Leader of Opposition and Happy to handover to the new Leader of Opposition.
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3. In a special way, I thank Team Nandala who propelled me to Uganda and the whole world
when I contested for Presidency of FDC in 2012. Am heavily indebted to them, and equally
thank the people of Uganda who have supported me all along. I assure all Ugandans, am
around and I will be coming to your respective areas soon to see you and thank you in
person.
Today the new Leader of Opposition is inheriting an office that has taken off as a fully
established and constituted institution by law for the progress and success in checking
government excesses. As usual and as a democratic leader we must show the lead as other
parties follow. So let us all now join together in affirming our common commitment in
helping the poor lady and gentleman in the villages of Kyanamukaka Masaka district,
Nshwere in Nyabushozi district, Katerampungu in Kanungu district, Lobule in Koboko
district, in Lulyambuzi parish Kamuli distrct and Karita in Amudat to live a better life.
I pledge to you that as long as I have a breath of life in my body I shall continue to fight
against injustice, dictatorship and advocate for equality for all. I shall continue to work for
the great causes to which I have been dedicated throughout my years as a leader of Bugisu
Cooperative Union, FDC member and a Member of Parliament. There is one cause above all
to which I have been devoted and to which I shall always be devoted for; to see that there is
equitability in Uganda. The mission is not lost. The struggle continues. God bless you all.
For God and My country
Nathan Nandala- Mafabi, MP
Outgoing LEADER OF OPPOSITION
18th Feb, 2014
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