The Democratic Party (DP) has today September 03, 2024, distanced itself from the private member’s bill proposed by their DP MP for Mityana South Lumu Richard to have the leader of the opposition be voted on by opposition MPs

While addressing a press briefing at Balintuma road in Rubaga division, the DP spokesperson and president of the Uganda Young Democrats (UYD) Ismail Kiirya said that those were views of Lumu as an individual and not views of DP as a party.

“We want to add our voice to other colleagues that as DP, we want to disassociate with the views of Lumu since they don’t represent democracy and fight against multiparty democracy, “Kiirya said.

Kiirya added that the bill was introduced by a private member and it’s his personal bill as an individual and he has a right to move the bill as an MP and not on behalf of the Democratic Party.

DP joins other political parties which have already rejected the Private members bill saying the bill intends to weaken the opposition and cause more chaos in an already troubled opposition.

According to John Kikonyogo the FDC spokesperson, the opposition leadership in parliament should provide substantial leadership to halt what he termed a redundant amendment bill, which is set to dissolve opposition in the country’s political landscape.

“We call upon the opposition leadership in parliament led by NUP to offer leadership and mobilize the opposition political parties and key stakeholders to block this redundant amendment bill. We call for opposition unity as we pursue this battle where the NRM regime intends to assert its control over the opposition in parliament,” Kikonyogo said.

During the plenary sitting on Thursday, August 29, 2024 at the Kaunda Grounds in Gulu City, Parliament granted the Mityana County South MP, Hon. Richard Lumu, introduced a Private Member’s Bill entitled, “The Administration of Parliament Amendment Bill, 2024”

The Bill among others, seeks to revise the process of selecting of the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament.

Lumu stated that the manner of election of the LOP as it stands, excludes other opposition political parties represented in Parliament and yet the LOP superintends over all of them and even selects the shadow cabinet from among them.

The proposed bill once passed into law will see the Leader of the opposition, the opposition party chief whips and the shadow cabinet all be decided by the opposition members in parliament.