@mordecaimuriisa: Joel Ssenyonyi did what many never expected. Standing before General. Museveni, and sending a message to Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, top military commanders, and the country's political elite, the Leader of the Opposition could have chosen the easy path. He could have delivered a safe, emotional tribute to the late Gen. Moses Ali and walked away. Instead, he turned a moment of mourning into a powerful constitutional reminder. Although Joel Ssenyonyi's politics stood in sharp contrast to those of the late Gen. Moses Ali, he put political differences aside to acknowledge his service, leadership, and sacrifices. It was a display of statesmanship that few could criticize. But then came the part that changed the mood in the room. The lawyer in Joel Ssenyonyi took over. With Museveni and CDF Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba listening, he reminded Uganda's leaders that the Constitution is not optional. He stressed that the rule of law must be respected and that no one regardless of rank, office, or military power is above the law. In that moment, this was no longer just a tribute. It became a constitutional challenge delivered straight to the country's most powerful figures. While others chose emotion, Joel chose principle. While others praised the past, Joel confronted the present. His speech wasn't just about honoring a fallen general—it was a reminder that the greatest tribute any nation can pay its heroes is to protect the Constitution they swore to defend. For many supporters of the Museveni government, those words were unlikely to be comfortable. What was expected to be a solemn ceremony became, in my view, a moment of accountability, as the Leader of the Opposition used the national stage to remind Uganda's leaders that power without respect for the Constitution undermines the very foundation of the state. Joel Ssenyonyi didn't simply deliver a tribute. He delivered a message the powerful could not ignore.

Mordecai Muriisa

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Tuesday 21 July 2026 12:16:27 GMT