The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Najjanankumbi, has strongly opposed the Administration of Parliament (Amendment) Bill, 2024, presented by Mityana South MP, Hon. Richard Lumu Kizito, labeling it an attempt to stifle the opposition’s power and influence in Parliament.
The bill, which was presented for its first reading in Parliament last Tuesday, aims to amend the Administration of Parliament Act to allow opposition members of Parliament to elect the Leader of the Opposition (LOP).
Under the current system, the position is appointed by the party with the most seats in the opposition. Hon. Lumu’s proposal seeks to give opposition MPs from various parties the power to elect the LOP from among themselves, rather than leaving the decision to the party with the greatest numerical strength.
FDC, however, has criticized this move. Lubega Walid, the party’s Deputy Secretary for Publicity (Publications), said the amendment undermines the opposition’s ability to function and is another example of the government’s continued effort to shrink political space for opposition parties.
“We in the FDC see this as an attack on opposition unity. The Lumu Bill is driven by bad faith and is a calculated attempt to disempower opposition parties,” Walid stated.
The proposed changes, particularly to Section 8 of the Act, would reform how the Leader of the Opposition is selected, requiring consultation with opposition political parties represented in Parliament and approval of the shadow cabinet by opposition MPs. However, the FDC contends that such issues should be resolved within political parties rather than through legislation.
Walid expressed concerns that this bill is part of a broader pattern of government actions aimed at reducing political participation and silencing dissenting voices in Parliament.
The FDC believes that denying the largest opposition party the right to appoint the LOP is undemocratic and could potentially be used by the ruling party, NRM, to manipulate opposition leadership.
Additionally, Clause 3 of the bill, which seeks to amend Section 9 of the Act to provide grounds for impeachment of the LOP, has sparked fears within the opposition that the ruling party could exploit this to oust strong opposition leaders who challenge the government.
“The ruling NRM party has a history of restrictive politics, and this bill could allow them to manipulate the opposition’s leadership, further entrenching their control over Uganda’s political landscape,” Walid warned.
The FDC is calling for a thorough reconsideration of the bill, emphasizing that Uganda has more pressing issues that require attention rather than focusing on changing parliamentary leadership structures. As debate over the bill continues, opposition parties are rallying to ensure that their ability to operate effectively in Parliament remains intact.
The bill was seconded by NUP’s Hon. Mbwatekamwa Kakembo (MP Entebbe Municipality), and Hon. Lumu was granted leave to introduce the bill during a regional parliamentary sitting in Gulu in late August. However, opposition unity remains a point of contention, with various parties weighing in on the potential implications of this legislation.
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