Bobi Wine dismisses MP Lumu’s Bill

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National Unity Platform NUP) party president, Robert Kyagulanyi, aka Bobi Wine says the Bill that Democratic Party (DP) Member of Parliament Richard Lumu is fronting is aimed at distorting the Constitution and keeping President Yoweri Museveni in power.

At its core, Lumu's Bill aims to amend Section 8 of the principal Act to allow opposition MPs in Parliament to elect the Leader of the Opposition (LOP), rather than having the position determined solely by the largest Opposition party.

“The party in Opposition to the Government with the greatest numerical strength in Parliament shall nominate at least three of its members, from whom the Leader of the Opposition shall be elected,” the draft Bill proposes.

Furthermore, the Bill stipulates that once elected, the LOP would cease to be a member of the largest Opposition party and, unlike in the past, could be removed from office by a resolution of opposition MPs.

Lumu also seeks to amend Section 11 of the principal Act to require shadow Cabinet members to be approved by Opposition lawmakers in Parliament, rather than being handpicked by the politburo of the largest Opposition party or by the President.

“Parliament has become a menace and majority of the MPs are being used by the regime. All these Bills and amendments that the regime is trying to bring up are intended to keep Museveni in power and distort the Constitution.

"Museveni is now using the Opposition party members to bring these bills and amendments,” Kyagulanyi said, adding that initially he through that many of the Opposition members were really in Opposition but it has come to light that majority of them are working for Museveni.

He made the remarks today (October 21, 2024) while addressing the media at the NUP party head offices in Makerere- Kavule.

Mpuuga reforms

While commenting on Nyendo-Mukungwe MP Mathias Mpuuga, electoral reforms, Kygaulanyi noted that what Mpuuga is fronting isn’t something new before Ugandans adding that he (Mpuuga) is just recycling what was already there.

“Term limits aren't Uganda’s problem. If Mpuuga was bringing something new, why didn’t he come up with an age limit and not term limits. Let’s assume that term limits are resorted, this simply means that Museveni will have the right to contest again".

"As NUP, we want age limits and not term limits,” Kyagulanyi said.

Kyagulanyi noted that the biggest problem that Uganda has had for a time is Museveni appointing the Electoral Commission (EC) adding that if the EC weren’t appointed by Museveni, elections in the country would be free and fair.

Using the same platform, LOP Joel Ssenyonyi, who is also a NUP member, said some of the Opposition leaders claim that NUP has been benefitting from the NUP supporters that have been detained in various prisons across the country.

“We have been working tooth and nail to see that our supporters in the prisons are released unconditionally and Mpuuga is saying that we are getting money by their (NUP supporters) staying in prison. Who in particular is getting money from their stay in prison,” Senyonyi asked.

NUP secretary general, David Lewis Rubongoya, appealed to Ugandans to register with the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA).

He also noted that the party is soon resuming with their national wide tour.