ALENYO URGES UNITY AS PARLIAMENT MOVES TO TACKLE ATTACKS ON MPs AT BURIALS

By Oringi Denis | AfricaPamoja-UG

KAMPALA, UGANDA — Jonam County Member of Parliament Hon. Marshall Alenyo has called for political tolerance and unity, stressing that burial ceremonies should remain occasions for compassion, solidarity and respect for the bereaved, regardless of political affiliation.

Speaking during a parliamentary sitting, Alenyo urged legislators to rise above partisan divisions and preserve the cultural and humanitarian values associated with attending funerals.

He emphasised that MPs attend burial ceremonies to mourn with bereaved families, support grieving colleagues and pay their last respects to the deceased—not to advance political party interests.

“On a very serious note, the issue of attending burials is as old as humanity. We have to attend burials of our colleagues and the people they love whenever and wherever they occur,” Alenyo said.

He further underscored the need to separate political competition from the shared responsibility of supporting one another during moments of grief.

“When we go for burials, we don’t go as NUP or as NRM. We go to attend these burials to commiserate with our colleagues and relatives,” he added.

PARLIAMENT SEEKS CROSS-PARTY SOLUTION

Alenyo’s appeal comes amid growing concern over political tensions and incidents of hostility involving legislators attending burial ceremonies.

On Tuesday, 27 October 2026, Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa proposed the formation of a reconciliation committee comprising representatives from both the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) and opposition parties.

According to Parliament’s account of the sitting, the proposal followed an incident at the burial of former Busiro South MP Charles Matovu, where Kibuku County MP Herbert Kinobere was reportedly attacked and chased away by angry mourners.

The proposed committee is to comprise five members from the government side and five from the opposition, with the Government Chief Whip and Opposition Chief Whip leading their respective teams.

The initiative is intended to provide a platform for dialogue, ease political tensions and identify practical measures to prevent similar confrontations.

A CALL TO RESTORE RESPECT AND HUMANITY

The debate has renewed attention to the responsibility of political leaders and their supporters to respect the dignity of funerals, which traditionally bring together relatives, friends, colleagues and leaders from different political backgrounds.

Political disagreements are an integral part of a multiparty democracy. However, they should not deprive individuals of the freedom to mourn, console bereaved families or honour the lives of those who have passed away.

For Jonam County and the wider West Nile region, Alenyo’s message highlights the importance of peaceful coexistence, mutual respect and responsible political engagement.

As Parliament considers a cross-party approach to reconciliation, the challenge will be to translate calls for unity into practical measures that protect mourners and ensure that burial ceremonies remain spaces for compassion rather than political confrontation.

AfricaPamoja-UG

Truth & Unity