The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has strongly criticized the Administration of Parliament (Amendment) Bill, 2024, introduced by Richard Lumu Kizito, the Member of Parliament for Mityana County South.
The bill proposes changes to how the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) is selected, allowing opposition MPs to vote for their leader instead of the current system where the largest opposition party appoints the LoP.
Walid Lubega, FDC’s deputy Secretary for publicity argues that this move could undermine the opposition’s strength in Parliament.
“This bill directly targets our political space and is designed to weaken the voice of the opposition,” said Lubega.
The bill, which passed its first reading last Tuesday, also seeks to establish grounds for the impeachment of the LoP, raising concerns within the opposition that the ruling party, the National Resistance Movement (NRM), could use it to silence critical voices.
Lubega expressed worry that the amendment would give the government excessive power to influence opposition leadership through the threat of impeachment. He further described the bill as part of a broader effort to limit political freedom in Uganda.
“This is a tactic to suppress the opposition. It’s against the principles of democracy and undermines a fair political system,” he added.
FDC leaders are calling on Parliament to focus on more urgent national issues rather than meddling in opposition matters. Lubega stressed, “We have pressing problems in the country, and this bill only serves to distract us from resolving them.”
The party insists that the LoP should be appointed based on the general election results and stands firmly against the proposed changes.
As the bill is under review by the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee, public concern has been growing, with some Ugandans fearing it could worsen governance and accountability issues.
Opposition leaders have raised objections during committee hearings, accusing the government of rushing the bill without proper consultation. Joel Ssenyonyi, the current LoP, warned that the bill threatens Uganda’s democratic future.
“This bill is being fast-tracked without enough discussion. It’s dangerous for our democracy,” Ssenyonyi said, urging the public to stay vigilant.
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