Gen Mugisha Muntu, together with his party, the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT), has called on Parliament to reject the Administration of Parliament Amendment Bill, 2024, arguing that it is full of hypocrisy and designed to settle political scores.
Gen. Mugisha Muntu and Alice Alaso, the ANT National Coordinator, made this passionate appeal today before the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee. They warned that passing the Bill could destabilize the political landscape and erode the already fragile democratic space in Uganda.
The Bill in question was recently introduced by Mityana South MP Richard Lumu, seeking to change the process of selecting the Leader of the Opposition by allowing MPs in the opposition to elect the leader, rather than having political parties appoint them. Gen. Muntu expressed concern that this would create a second power centre within opposition parties, potentially leading to chaos and instability.
“This Bill is a recipe for disaster,” Muntu warned. “We are already grappling with enough challenges. Appointing a Leader of Opposition outside their party’s control will create a second power centre. This is not the time to complicate matters. Don’t add to the confusion in an already difficult situation.”
Muntu further cautioned the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), reminding them that their current dominance in Parliament could easily be reversed. “For those in the NRM, you may manipulate things now, but tomorrow, you may find yourselves in opposition. Be careful not to set a precedent that could backfire on you. The stability of this country depends on strong institutions, and political parties are the vehicles of governance.”
Alice Alaso echoed Muntu’s sentiments, criticizing the Bill for being unnecessary and potentially damaging. “Why try to fix what isn’t broken?” she questioned. “The current system is working fine. The tradition of parties designating their Leader of Opposition has not caused any problems. So why create a law that complicates matters?”
Alaso further pointed out the inconsistency in the proposed Bill, asking why the ruling party can appoint committee chairpersons without an electoral process, yet the opposition should be subjected to one for the Leader of the Opposition. She also raised concerns that if passed, the Bill would face constitutional challenges.
“The Bill, as it stands, could lead to the erosion of the little democratic space we have. It will be open to constitutional challenges, as it contradicts current parliamentary practices,” Alaso argued.
Meanwhile, both Gen Muntu and Alaso warned that if the Bill is enacted, could weaken Parliament’s reputation and undermine the role of opposition parties in the political system, calling on MPs to reject it for the sake of the country’s democratic future.
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