There was a light moment at Parliament when Kalungu West MP, Joseph Gonzaga Ssewungu, briefly took charge of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), drawing smiles and applause from fellow legislators.
Ssewungu, who was recently re-elected, assumed the role of interim chairperson during a committee session after the substantive chairperson, Goretti Namugga, stepped out to attend to urgent matters.
The handover happened during a meeting with officials from Lira Regional Referral Hospital led by Dr Odur.
Committee members quickly warmed up to Ssewungu’s temporary leadership, with Tororo South MP, Fredrick Angura, praising his calm approach and ability to listen.
“I welcome MP Ssewungu’s appointment as interim chair of the Public Accounts Committee because of his unquestionable leadership skills and political experience,” Angura said.
Namugga returned after about 45 minutes, prompting Ssewungu to hand back the role just as smoothly as he had assumed it.
In a light but pointed remark, Ssewungu used the moment to make a broader call for peaceful transitions in leadership.
“As I hand over the chair back to you, madam chairperson, handing over power peacefully should be the way to go for all leaders in Uganda and Africa as a whole,” Ssewungu said, drawing nods from colleagues.
Other MPs present, including Elijah Okupa, Herbert Tayebwa, Richard Wanda and Ignatius Wamakuyu Mudimi, expressed no objection to Ssewungu’s brief stint.
They described him as accommodative, flexible and knowledgeable on a range of national issues, including health, public finance and diplomacy.
Ssewungu, a former teacher before joining Parliament, appeared at ease in the role, even if only for a short time.
For a committee often associated with tough accountability sessions, the brief change in leadership offered a rare moment of warmth and humour.
