A new push to change how Uganda’s Opposition leaders are chosen has sparked heated debate in Parliament and the public domain, as the motion was read on Thursday during the Guru regional parliament sitting, some Members of Parliament cautioned that the proposed move could lead to division and instability within the Opposition ranks.
The controversy centers around a Private Member’s Bill that was presented by Democratic Party’s Richard Lumu (Mityana South), seeking to allow all Opposition MPs to participate in the election of the Leader of the Opposition and the Chief Opposition Whip, rather than having these positions filled by the main Opposition party in Parliament, currently the National Unity Platform (NUP).
During the plenary, National Unity Platform’s Michael Kakembo representing Entebbe Municipality strongly supported the motion, arguing that allowing all Opposition MPs to vote for their leaders would promote unity and mutual respect among the various Opposition factions. “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?” Kakembo said.
However, not everyone agrees that this move would be beneficial. Okin Ojara (Chwa West) warned that the proposal could create unnecessary division within the Opposition and disrupt the current functioning of Parliament. “The current arrangement in Parliament is working appropriately. We haven’t had a situation in Uganda where the ruling government elects their Party Chief Whips or Prime Ministers, so this motion is very dangerous,” Ojara cautioned.
Ojara’s concerns echo a broader anxiety among some MPs that the bill if passed, could weaken the Opposition by fostering competition and rivalry between different factions rather than uniting them under a common goal. Critics argue that the existing system, which designates the largest Opposition party to appoint the Leader of the Opposition, provides a clear and stable leadership structure that has served well so far.
Lumu, the bill’s proponent, remains adamant that elections are the cornerstone of democracy and should be extended to Opposition leadership roles to ensure that all MPs feel represented. Drawing comparisons with other democratic processes, Lumu questioned why Opposition leaders are exempt from such practices, stating, “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.”
As Parliament prepares for a second reading of the bill, the debate over how best to manage Opposition leadership is set to continue, with MPs weighing the potential benefits of increased democratic involvement against the risks of fragmentation and internal conflict.
The outcome of this legislative battle could reshape the future of Uganda’s Opposition politics, but as some caution, it may also come with unintended consequences that could challenge the Opposition’s ability to present a united front against the ruling government.
According to Dr. Warren Kizza Besigye, the four-time presidential election, also one of the country’s most respected opposition political leaders, the principle of multiparty democracy is that a majority party forms the government and the (minority) opposition party forms a shadow government.
Besigye has advised that the shadow government should, ideally, be formed by one party- not all opposition parties! This is because they offer alternative policies to those of the government since political different parties have different policies.
“Uganda has a hybrid of a parliamentary and presidential system. The leader of Government business in Parliament is appointed by the President; so the leader of the Opposition has to be appointed by the “shadow” president. If there was to be an election of LoP, it should be by only the MP of the party forming a shadow cabinet.
If the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Parliament is elected by MPs of the main “Opposition” party, then, logically, the Leader of Government business would, similarly, be elected by MPs of the “ruling” party!” he said.
Besigye says that Lumu is not the first Member of Parliament to table such a motion before the House, he notes that Medard Ssegona (Busiro East lawmaker) had moved the same motion in the last parliament because he was unhappy about FDC appointing LoP. However, when his party now, NUP, became the main opposition party, he seemed to be comfortable with what he was unhappy about!
“Unfortunately, in Uganda today, there’s no democracy, let alone, a multiparty system! This is what all well-meaning “opposition” MPs should be fighting for. Regrettably, most are preoccupied with getting benefits in the NRM/M7 Junta rule- Shame!” he said.
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