Richard Lumu, the Member of Parliament for Mityana County South, has pledged to stand firm despite mounting pressure from fellow opposition members over his proposed bill that seeks to reform the election of the Leader of the Opposition. While on NBS Television in an interview, Lumu responded to criticism by arguing that opposition figures should only be concerned if they truly believe the bill is not in their favor. He added that the bill would only apply to the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) once they find themselves in the opposition after the next general elections.
Lumu firmly rejected claims that his bill is designed to weaken the opposition. Instead, he insists that the proposed changes would strengthen opposition leadership and bring more meaningful reform, refuting allegations of watering Ssenyonyi down. “This bill will not weaken the opposition, but make it more effective,” he said. He also addressed accusations that the NRM is behind his proposal, calling the rumors baseless and warning that he will take legal action against anyone spreading these claims. “I challenge anyone to say this outside of Parliament and see what happens. They are hiding behind parliamentary immunity, but I will sue if these lies continue,” he threatened.
Political analysts and opposition members have expressed concern over the bill, claiming that it might benefit the NRM and help the ruling party maintain its grip on power. Veteran opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye, a former military officer, has been one of the most vocal critics, labeling the bill as “useless” and asserting that it is being driven by NRM interests to undermine the opposition.
The debate surrounding this bill is intensifying as both sides argue over its potential impact on Uganda’s political future.
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