Ofwono Opondo turns on government for shielding the corrupt

"I love this trajectory of the struggle and hope it remains peaceful and unafraid," he wrote, signalling a rare alignment with public dissent.

Opondo's outspoken nature continued as he dismissed the calls by Col Edith Nakalema, who urged young Ugandans not to march to parliament, as "hogwash and revisionist thinking."

Nakalema's remarks came ahead of the July 22 march to parliament protests which were instantly thwarted by the police and the military with over 100 people arrested.

Visiting Among

Last weekend, Opondo visited the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, in her home district of Bukedia. Together, they toured various development projects, including a secondary school, a hospital, a health training institute, Maama Radio Station, and an upcoming sports complex.

Opondo visited the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among1 pulse uganda

Read; MPs invite protestors to Parliament next week

Despite Among's association with corruption allegations that have stirred public sentiment, Opondo appeared to seek a middle ground in addressing the issue.

Following their meeting, Opondo penned an opinion piece emphasising the importance of fighting corruption.

He condemned the government's efforts to label arrested protesters as traitors or pawns of foreign interests, a narrative initially pushed by President Yoweri Museveni.

The President has defended Speaker Among, portraying her as a dedicated leader targeted by foreign powers for supporting the anti-homosexuality law. He also asserted that Among's wealth was earned through hard work and ingenuity.

In his opinion piece, Opondo expressed disappointment with the current handling of the protests. He criticised the framing of accountability demands as foreign interference, highlighting the widespread and endemic nature of corruption within the government.

Opondo called for a return to the principles of civic persuasion and ideological engagement that once characterised the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party's approach.

He noted, "The hyped #March2Parliament #AnitaMustResign #EndCorruption is now more of a nuisance value than a well-informed, genuine, and spirited fight to cleanse public service of corruption."

Opondo lamented the failure to address youth complaints proactively, warning that Uganda's reputation as a democracy and a desirable destination for tourism and investment was at risk.

Opondo's stance marks a notable shift in the government's narrative, as he urged for transparency and accountability without resorting to heavy-handed tactics.

He acknowledged that while the protests have been largely peaceful, the presence of military vehicles on the streets created a negative image.

He also warned against fabricating or exaggerating intelligence reports, a practice that has led to past embarrassments for the government.