KAMPALA, Uganda — A group of lawmakers affiliated with the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) has launched a fresh bid to overhaul how Uganda’s Leader of the Opposition is chosen, setting the stage for a potentially fierce political battle over one of Parliament’s most influential offices.
Led by Buyaga West County MP Dennis Namara, the legislators have formally notified the Clerk to Parliament of their intention to seek leave to introduce a Private Member’s Bill amending the Administration of Parliament Act.
The proposed legislation would remove the current arrangement under which the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) is designated by the largest opposition party in Parliament and instead require all opposition legislators — including Independents and members of smaller parties — to elect the holder of the office.
The move is widely expected to provoke resistance from the National Unity Platform (NUP), Uganda’s largest opposition party. The office is presently held by Joel Ssenyonyi.
Speaking after submitting the notice, Mr. Namara insisted the proposal was aimed at strengthening institutions rather than targeting individuals.
“I am not targeting an individual because the office of the Leader of the Opposition is an institution, not a person,” he said.
He argued that the office carries substantial responsibilities and receives significant public funding, making it necessary to establish broader accountability mechanisms similar to those governing other senior parliamentary offices.
According to the legislators behind the proposal, the office receives approximately Shs4 billion annually in facilitation and operational support.
The proposed amendments would also address how opposition legislators are deployed to parliamentary committees and define circumstances under which a Leader of the Opposition may cease to hold office.
Supporters of the proposal say the current arrangement excludes opposition lawmakers who do not belong to the largest opposition party. They argue that Independent MPs and members of smaller parties should have a direct say in choosing a leader expected to represent the entire opposition in Parliament.
Critics, however, view the proposal as an attempt to dilute NUP’s influence in Parliament and weaken the authority of the opposition party that secured the largest mandate from voters.
The latest effort closely resembles a controversial proposal introduced by former Mityana South MP Richard Lumu, who in 2024 tabled the Administration of Parliament (Amendment) Bill seeking to allow opposition legislators to elect the Leader of the Opposition.
The proposal generated intense debate inside and outside Parliament before it was withdrawn following objections from opposition parties, stakeholders and the Attorney General’s office.
In her ruling on the matter, Speaker Anita Among said several submissions received by Parliament had argued that the proposal was inconsistent with principles associated with the Westminster parliamentary system, under which the Leader of the Opposition traditionally comes from the largest opposition party in the legislature.
The withdrawal marked a temporary victory for NUP and other political actors who argued that altering the method of selecting the opposition leader could undermine party structures and create uncertainty in parliamentary representation.
Uganda’s current system is rooted in the Administration of Parliament Act, which provides that the largest opposition party in Parliament nominates the Leader of the Opposition. The office holder is responsible for coordinating opposition business in the House and appointing a shadow cabinet tasked with scrutinizing government policy and offering alternative proposals.
Since the 2021 general election, NUP has held that privilege after emerging as the dominant opposition force in Parliament, winning more parliamentary seats than any other opposition party.
The renewed push by PLU-affiliated lawmakers nevertheless signals that the debate is far from settled.
For supporters, the reform would democratize opposition leadership by giving every opposition legislator an equal voice in choosing the Leader of the Opposition.
For opponents, it risks weakening political parties by allowing parliamentary numbers rather than party mandates to determine who leads the opposition.
The proposal’s sponsors are expected to seek formal leave from Parliament in the coming weeks. If approved, the bill will be subjected to committee scrutiny, possible public consultations and debate on the floor of the House before lawmakers decide whether to adopt the changes.
The outcome could have significant implications for the future structure of opposition politics in Uganda, determining whether the country’s most prominent opposition office remains the preserve of the largest opposition party or becomes a position elected by all opposition legislators.
It should be remembered that the move comes days after Muhoozi threatened to remove Joel Ssenyonyi from his job as Leader of Opposition in Parliament, and to throw him in the basement. (See Details Here and There).
Meanwhile, there are reports that Museveni also plans to amend the Constitution through a referendum so as to easily hand over power to his son, but a prophet has warned there could be an assassination attempt. (See Details Here and There).
