Parliament has initiated a process to change the mode of electing the leadership of the opposition.
A bill titled the Administration of parliament amendment bill 2024 proposes to end the long lasting entitlement of the biggest opposition party in Parliament from electing or appointing the LOP and the Chief Whip respectively.
Mityana South Member of Parliament Richard Lumu thought it wise that the gap can only be addressed by making changes in the legal framework. MP Lumu has spearheaded a bill to introduce an amendment in the Administration of parliament Act to provide for the election of both the Leader of opposition and the Opposition Chief Whip by members of the respective parties in parliament rather than the current mode of appointment by the largest opposition party with a numerical strength in parliament.
“Election is the epitome of democracy, I am a Catholic, there is an election of the Pope, the highest and respected leader in the world, if there is an election there, there must be an election here. We are in the Opposition, we were elected and we also elected you (Speaker), the very reason why you are seated in that seat. We also elect the President therefore, there is no reason why when we come to Parliament as the Opposition, we don’t elect our leader who is the Leader of Opposition,” argued Lumu.
According to MP Lumu, the move will enhance a democratic participation being that elections are a fundamental aspect of democracy.
Lumu further stressed that the current operations of the office of the leader of opposition ring-fences the ideas and the members of other opposition into a one party business which locks out popular participation.
“It is important that the pillar of democracy, which is election should actually be done by us the Opposition, who are actually bout to take power. We need an election, clear, in the Opposition. Section 8 of the Administration of the Parliament Act Cap272 provides for the election of the Leader of Opposition by the Party in Opposition having the greatest numerical strength in Parliament. The Rules also say that other parties should be consulted, my Party has never been consulted on that whenever there is a new or the other Leader of Opposition,” added Lumu.
However, Okin Ojara (Chwa West) disagreed with Lumu’s argument saying the status quo hasn’t posed any challenges noting.
“The current arrangement in Parliament is working appropriately because when you look at the entire structure of Parliament, we haven’t had a situation in Uganda where the Ruling Government elects their Party Chief Whips, where we have the Prime Ministers being elected, so this motion that he is trying to present is actually very dangerous.” Ojara stated.
National Unity Platform’s Michael Kakembo (Entebbe Municipality) while seconding Lumu’s motion argued that there is nothing wrong with Opposition MPs voting their own leader, saying such a move will ensure the current culture of the Leader of Opposition thinking that they own all Opposition MPs. “I am convinced that this move is going to give us more unity as the Opposition, and respect for each other. Let us vote for our leaders, what is wrong with that? I am standing here to second this motion in good faith, it will help us, it will build us more because unity of the Opposition means strength of the Opposition and respect for each other. I must participate in the electing of my leader as the Opposition,” said Kakembo.
However, Speaker Anitah Among ruled in favour of Lumu asking the disgruntled MPs to reject Lumu’s Bill on second reading if they so wish remarking.
“Much as we are sitting in Gulu, this is a normal sitting. And as I said, let us not act in anticipation, there is no fight. The law isn’t made for one person, today I may be the Leader of Opposition, tomorrow another person will be the leader, but I don’t see any fight in this thing and you can reject when it comes to the second reading. We shouldn’t deny a member his right which is enshrined in the constitution.” the Speaker said.
