Bill to change election of Leader of Opposition gazetted

A private member’s Bill seeking to change how parliament elects, supervises and removes the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) has been gazetted, paving the way for its consideration by parliament.

The Administration of Parliament (Amendment) Bill, 2026, sponsored by Buyaga West County MP Dennis Namara, is listed as Bill No. 15 in the Uganda Gazette, Volume CXIX, No. 95, dated October 23, 2026.

The Bill proposes that all opposition MPs elect the LoP, replacing the current arrangement under which the opposition party with the largest number of MPs selects the officeholder. It would also require opposition MPs to approve the Shadow Cabinet, introduce additional grounds for removing the LoP and widen consultations on appointments to opposition leadership positions.

Namara, who represents Buyaga West County in Kagadi district, obtained parliament’s permission to introduce the Private Member’s Bill on July 8, 2026, following a plenary debate chaired by deputy speaker Thomas Tayebwa.

Moving the motion, Namara argued that the existing law gives one opposition party control over the selection of a leader expected to represent the wider opposition in Parliament.

He said the arrangement limits the participation of MPs from other opposition parties and independent legislators in choosing the person responsible for scrutinising government policies and holding the Executive accountable.

Under the proposed amendments, the LoP would be required to consult opposition parties, organisations and independent MPs when appointing opposition representatives to parliamentary leadership positions.

The Shadow Cabinet, whose members are assigned portfolios corresponding to those of government ministers, would also require approval by opposition MPs through a parliamentary resolution. This would change the current arrangement, under which the LoP appoints the team in consultation with party leadership.

The Bill also proposes additional grounds for removing the LoP, including misconduct, incompetence and inability to perform official duties because of physical or mental infirmity.

It further provides for the incumbent to leave office three months after the proposed law comes into force, followed by a fresh election under the new framework.

The proposals seek to amend the Administration of Parliament Act, 1997. Section 8 of the Act provides that the opposition party with the greatest numerical strength in Parliament elects the LoP. Although the party may consult other opposition parties and independent MPs, such consultations are not mandatory.

Section 9 provides for the officeholder to cease holding office if removed by the party that elected them, resigns, leaves that party, ceases to be an MP under Article 83 of the Constitution, or the party loses its position as the opposition party with the greatest numerical strength in parliament.

Article 82A of the Constitution requires parliament to provide by law for the selection and removal of the LoP, the officeholder’s status and functions, and the benefits and privileges attached to the position.

The LoP scrutinises government policies, coordinates opposition positions and presents alternatives to government programmes. The officeholder enjoys the status and privileges of a Cabinet minister.

The Bill comes amid public exchanges between LoP Joel Ssenyonyi and Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the Chief of Defence Forces and head of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), over the military chief’s conduct.

Muhoozi called for Ssenyonyi’s removal in posts on X and later directed PLU-affiliated legislators to explore ways of unseating him. The PLU subsequently endorsed the proposed amendments.

Kasambya County MP David Kabanda, who heads the Office of the PLU Chairman, announced the organisation’s support on behalf of Muhoozi, arguing that the law should provide a clear mechanism for removing the LoP.

Namara recently said that he was ready to present the Bill to parliament. His proposal follows previous attempts to amend the law governing the selection of opposition leadership.

These include an initiative by independent Kabale Municipality MP Andrew Aja Baryayanga in 2018–2019 and a Bill sponsored by Mityana County MP Richard Kizito Lumu in 2024. Both sought to broaden participation in selecting opposition leaders.

Lumu’s proposal sought to have opposition MPs elect the LoP and Opposition Chief Whip rather than leaving the choice exclusively to the largest opposition party. It also proposed creating a deputy LoP position, changing how party whips are selected and increasing the representation of independent MPs on the Parliamentary Commission.

Separately, Kilak North MP Anthony Akol, of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), sponsored the Administration of Parliament (Amendment) Bill, 2021. Unlike the proposals by Baryayanga and Lumu, Akol’s Bill focused primarily on Parliament’s administration and composition.

It proposed including the deputy speaker on the Parliamentary Commission, providing for parliamentary staff training and aligning the Act with other legislation.

Parliament passed Akol’s Bill on April 14, 2021, and it received presidential assent.

Lumu revived the debate in 2024 when parliament granted him leave to introduce the Administration of Parliament (Amendment) Bill, 2024, on August 29. He tabled it on October 1 that year.

His Bill proposed that all opposition MPs elect the LoP and Opposition Chief Whip. It also sought to require opposition MPs to approve the Shadow Cabinet, introduce additional grounds for removing the LoP and widen consultations on appointments to opposition leadership positions.

The proposal faced resistance from opposition parties, including the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) and the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT). Their leaders argued that allowing all opposition MPs to elect the LoP could undermine party autonomy and weaken opposition cohesion.

According to parliamentary tracking records, Lumu’s Bill was withdrawn in March 2026.

Gazetting formally publishes a Bill as part of the legislative process. It does not mean Parliament has passed the proposed amendments or that they have become law. The 2026 Bill must still undergo the applicable parliamentary procedures before its provisions can take effect.

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