Richard Lumu, the Member of Parliament for Mityana South, has announced plans to consult with leaders of the National Unity Platform (NUP) regarding his proposed Administration of Parliament Amendment Bill.
The bill aims to reform the election process for the Leader of Opposition in Parliament (LOP), challenging the current practice that allows the main opposition party to impose its preferred candidate on Members of Parliament (MPs).
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During a media interview at Parliament on Monday, September 9, 2024, Lumu expressed the importance of engaging with NUP, which holds the largest number of MPs.
“On Friday, September 13, 2024, I will go to NUP, just in case they confirm because I wrote to them; they haven’t yet confirmed. So if they confirm, I will tell you; if they don’t confirm, I will still tell you. But the purpose of me going there is to consult,” Lumu said.
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Lumu noted that he has already met with representatives from the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), who opposed his proposal and advocated for maintaining the current system. He noted that while UPC supported several aspects of his bill, they suggested minor changes to the election process of the LOP, favoring an appointment system instead.
“The law as it is doesn’t say appointment; it is far from what people are doing, which I think the way it is shouldn’t be the position; I emphasize the need for reform,” Lumu explained.
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He added that in addition to NUP and UPC, he is actively consulting with other political parties, noting that he was scheduled to meet with officials from the Democratic Party, but that meeting has been postponed to Wednesday, September 11, 2024.
Additionally, on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, Lumu plans to engage with the People’s Progressive Party Secretariat for further discussions.
As Lumu continues to gather input from various stakeholders, the outcome of these consultations could significantly impact the future of the LOP’s election process in Uganda’s Parliament.
