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The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) government has rejected a private member’s bill introduced by Mityana South MP Richard Lumu, which sought to overhaul the process for electing the Leader of the Opposition (LoP).

The Administration of Parliament (Amendment) Bill, 2024, proposed that opposition MPs elect the LoP from the opposition party with the greatest numerical strength in Parliament.

The bill also called for establishing clear grounds for removing the LoP from office, required opposition MPs to approve the shadow cabinet, and mandated consultations with all opposition parties when appointing members to parliamentary standing committees.

Reform Proposal

During the Gulu regional parliamentary sitting in August 2024, MP Lumu argued that the current system stifles minority voices within the opposition. He noted the diverse range of political parties in Parliament, including the Democratic Party, Forum for Democratic Change, Uganda People’s Congress, Justice Forum, and the People’s Progressive Party.

Lumu stated that the existing framework fails to fully represent all opposition groups and questioned why positions like the President, Speaker of Parliament, and even the Pope are subject to democratic elections, yet the LoP and Chief Opposition Whip are not.

Government Response

However, the Ministry of Finance and Deputy Attorney General Jackson Karugaba Kafuuzi rejected key aspects of the bill. The Ministry argued that expanding the number of parliamentary commissioners would place a financial strain on the Consolidated Fund.

The government also dismissed the proposal to add a seat for smaller opposition parties on the commission, claiming it would undermine the principle of numerical strength, which gives the largest party in Parliament greater representation.

Kafuuzi further rejected the idea of electing the LoP, arguing that such a matter fell under policy rather than legislative action.

He also dismissed the suggestion to allow opposition MPs to remove the LoP by resolution, asserting that it would contradict the will of the people, who elect their representatives through free and fair elections.

“The leader of the opposition is appointed through elections and should not be removed by a resolution in Parliament,” Kafuuzi explained.

Opposition Response

Current Leader of the Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi, expressed his opposition to the bill, describing it as a targeted move rather than a genuine effort to strengthen democratic processes.

“If the aim was to enhance democracy by electing both the Leader of the Opposition and the Leader of Government Business, I’d support it. However, focusing only on the opposition leader suggests this is a personal attack rather than a democratic reform,” Ssenyonyi said.

He further clarified that the rules specify the LoP should be elected by the party with the largest opposition membership. Ssenyonyi stated that he was elected by his party’s National Executive Committee, which followed the party’s internal procedures.

Ongoing Debate

The bill continues to spark debate, with many questioning whether parliamentary reforms should focus on strengthening democratic processes or preserving established political norms. For now, the government’s rejection of the bill signals a desire to maintain the current system of appointing the Leader of the Opposition.