Lumu's Administration Of Parliament Amendment Bill, Wants Second Runner Up In Presidential Elections To Become Leader Of Opposition

Mityana South Member of Parliament on Democratic Party ticket Hon Richard Lumu has presented the Administration of Parliament (Amendment) Bill, 2024, in which he is seeking to provide for the election of the Leader of the Opposition, to provide for additional grounds upon which the Leader of the Opposition my cease to hold office and to require the shadow cabinet to be approved by the Opposition parties.

 Lumu is also seeking amendment to the current act to require the Leader of the Opposition to consult opposition political parties represented in Parliament when appointing chairpersons and deputy chairpersons of standing Committees.

Lumu defended the enactment of the la arguing that although there are various political parties in opposition with representation in Parliament, including Democratic Party, Forum for Democratic Change, Uganda People's Congress, Justice Forum and People's Progressive Party and the Leader of the Opposition superintend all members of the opposition in Parliament, the current manner of election of Leader of Opposition has bred an atmosphere that suppresses Legislators.

 “As a result, there is need to amend the Administration of Parliament Act, Cap.272 to allow for the participation of all members of opposition in Parliament in the election of the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament in order to achieve effective representation,” noted Lumu.

“Whereas section 8 of the Administration of Parliament Act requires the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament to be determined through an elective process, it is silent on the composition of the electoral college for the election of the Leader of the Opposition and currently the Leader of the Opposition is designated by the party with the highest numerical strength among opposition parties in Parliament and is simply imposed on the members of opposition in Parliament without their will and consent,” explained Lumu.

According to Lumu, the party with the highest political strength should send three names on which all opposition Legislators should choose one.

Lumu wants the presidential candidate who gets half of the winner's votes automatically becomes the Leader of Opposition in Parliament adding that his amendment bill is just an alternative just incase the first runner-up has got below half of the winner's votes.

“However, the current manner of election of Leader of the Opposition in Parliament has not only led to the suppression of the views of other opposition political parties in Parliament but also made it impossible for the members in opposition in Parliament to hold the Leader of the Opposition accountable,” noted Lumu.

He confirms that he has written to NUP leadership for a meeting on the same but no response to date.