MPs divided over Lumu's controversial bill

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Last month, during the regional sitting in Gulu, Mityana South MP, Richard Lumu, tabled the Administration of Parliament Amendment Bill, 2024.

Given that Opposition leader in Parliament (LOP) Joel Ssenyonyi (Nakawa West, NUP) had called for a boycott, the development raised suspicion.

Opposition leader in Parliament (LOP), Joel Ssenyonyi (Nakawa West, NUP). (New Vision/File)

Many staunch opposition lawmakers saw this as an attempt to sideline Ssenyonyi, who has been a thorn in Speaker Among's side since his handpicking late last year.

On Tuesday, October 1, 2024, his Bill was forwarded to the House legal and parliamentary affairs committee for further review. But what exactly does it propose?

Contents of the Bill

At its core, Richard 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.

Mityana South MP, Richard Lumu, tabled the Administration of Parliament Amendment Bill, 2024. (New Vision/File)

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.

“The LOP, in consultation with Opposition political parties represented in Parliament, may appoint chairpersons and deputy chairpersons of Standing Committees, which are required to be chaired and deputized by opposition members,” the Bill further states.

Although many have dismissed the bill as an attempt to strip power from National Unity Platform (NUP) President Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, also known as Bobi Wine, some lawmakers, including Elijah Okupa (Kasilo County, NRM), argue that such reforms are long overdue.

Speaking to New Vision Online two weeks ago, Okupa, now serving his fifth term in office, revealed that Opposition leaders and backbench commissioners were originally elected. However, this practice changed as opposition party leaders became increasingly suspicious.

“I don't know why people have a very short memory. Honorable Latigo was elected LOP by members. He was not appointed by Dr. Kiiza Besigye or by FDC. It was the members of FDC who elected him? The Chief Whip, Honorable Kasiano Wadri, was elected by the members of the main Opposition at that time. So, the issue of election of the LOP is not a new thing. I don't know why people are making noise over it,” he explained.

“It was because of the greed and people wanting power to be under them that later on after Wafula Oguttu, the party, the secretary general of FDC started saying, no, these people are becoming more powerful. The chairman of the party, the president of the party must have control over the LOP. That's how they manipulated the thing to end up being appointed by the chairman or by the party,” he added.

At the time, Okupa, who was a member of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), recalls that they used to contest for positions within the opposition. Therefore, he argues, the push to reintroduce elections should not cause controversy.

“I remember at that time I was even part of the candidate but I withdrew because I had been offered the commission. But, Latigo and Mr. Sam Kaleega Njuba (RIP) contested for it. Wadri contested with Alaso for Chief Whip and Wadri won. So, it's not something new,” he further stressed.

Despite everything, DP Whip Peter Okot (Tochi County) has distanced himself from Lumu's bill.

“The lead mover, Honorable Richard Lumu, is my deputy. He is the deputy whip. He did not come with that as a party. He came as a member of parliament for Mityana South, and it is his right to do so. That's why he has scheduled meetings with different parties,” Okot stated.

Adding that “He (Lumu) also came to DP. And he was also told that as DP, we don't see that as a right move. Because ordinarily, how do you go fight for all this thing, then somebody just grabs it from you on a silver platter.”