Mityana South MP, Richard Lumu, has withdrawn the Administration of Parliament (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which proposed that opposition MPs be allowed to directly elect the Leader of the Opposition (LoP).
The bill aimed to address concerns over the current selection process, which Lumu described as undemocratic. Under Section 8 of the Administration of Parliament Act, Cap. 272, the LoP should be elected. Instead, the position is currently designated by the opposition party with the largest number of MPs, effectively imposing the leader on other opposition members without their consent.
Speaking during a parliamentary sitting in Gulu, Lumu highlighted that multiple opposition parties—including the Democratic Party (DP), Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), Justice Forum (JEEMA), and People’s Progressive Party (PPP)—have representation in Parliament. He noted that both the Leader of the Opposition and the Chief Opposition Whip are tasked with coordinating all opposition MPs.
“The current arrangement suppresses the voices of smaller opposition parties and undermines effective representation,” Lumu said. “We need an amendment that allows all opposition MPs to participate in electing the Leader of the Opposition and Chief Opposition Whip.”
Lumu also drew a broader comparison with democratic practices elsewhere. “Catholics vote for the Pope, Ugandans vote for a President, and MPs elect a Speaker. Why should the Leader of the Opposition and Chief Opposition Whip be exempt from the same democratic principles?” he asked.
Speaker Anitah Among acknowledged Lumu’s concerns and ruled in his favor, emphasizing that MPs could reject the bill during its second reading.
“Even though we are sitting in Gulu, this is a normal sitting. Let us not act in anticipation—there is no fight,” Among said. “The law is not made for one person. Today I may be the Leader of Opposition, tomorrow it could be someone else. You can reject the bill at the second reading, but we must not deny a member his constitutional rights.”
