MPs Accused of Forging LOP’s Name to Attend Mombasa Workshop

Kampala, Uganda – Today, five Members of Parliament stand accused of forging the name of the Leader of Opposition (LOP), Joel Ssenyonyi to fraudulently secure clearance for a two-week workshop in Mombasa, Kenya.

The now-viral letter issued by Kenya-based Legislative Centre invited the “Leader of Opposition and his/her delegation” to a high-level governance workshop themed

“Enhancing people-based governance for better livelihoods,” scheduled for May 18–31, 2025, at Sai Rock Hotel in Mombasa.

According to a statement released by the LOP himself on social media, the following MPs allegedly orchestrated the scheme Hon. Joyce Bagala (Mityana Woman MP), Hon. Juliet Kakande (Nansana Municipality), Hon. Michael Kakembo (Entebbe Municipality), Hon. Lumu Richard (Mityana South) whose name appears to have been added manually in pen and Hon. Najjuma Sarah (Nakaseke Woman MP, NRM) a controversial addition since she does not belong to the Opposition

Ssenyonyi, who was completely unaware of the so-called “Opposition delegation,” only found out by accident when the document surfaced through unofficial channels. His response? Outrage.

“They used my name without consulting me. They impersonated me. And one of them even added their name by hand who does that in 2025?!” he posted on X (formerly Twitter).

The MPs reportedly forwarded the forged letter to the Speaker of Parliament, requesting official facilitation potentially involving public funds for the trip under the pretext of Opposition business.

A close examination of the letter reveals questionable details since no specific names of the “delegation” were originally listed, the handwritten addition of “Hon. Lumu” suggests post-delivery tampering, the inclusion of NRM MP Najjuma Sarah under an “Opposition delegation” completely contradicts parliamentary alignment protocols and the LOP’s name was used as a legal authority without his consent, a possible case of impersonation and misuse of office.

This incident doesn’t just hint at bad manners, it exposes a worrying trend in Uganda’s legislature, the abuse of official channels for personal enrichment and travel perks.

Workshops abroad especially in cities like Mombasa or Dubai have become known among MPs as unofficial “breaks” disguised as professional development. Many times, these trips are funded by taxpayers, yet produce little to no impact reports upon return.

“This isn’t just deception. It’s a manipulation of the system and an insult to Ugandans who trust us to serve ethically.”

While the public is demanding an investigation, Parliament has yet to issue an official statement. The Speaker’s office, which received the suspicious request for facilitation is now under pressure to clarify whether the trip was approved and if any public funds were already allocated.

If proven, this could constitute to forgery, impersonation, misrepresentation of office and fraudulent access to government resources. The Inspectorate of Government (IGG) or Parliament’s Ethics and Disciplinary Committee may be called upon to probe the incident further.

Online platforms are already flooded with angry reactions, satire and memes about “Mombasa-gate.” Many Ugandans are calling for tough disciplinary measures including suspension or criminal investigation of the implicated MPs.

Some civil society organizations have also weighed in, calling it “a betrayal of public trust” and “proof that the rot in Parliament is deeper than we think.”

This shocking twist has turned a routine workshop invitation into a national ethics scandal, putting the credibility of multiple legislators and Parliament itself under the microscope.

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