Kampala, Uganda – The Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) has vehemently opposed a proposal by Mityana South MP Richard Lumu to amend the law and automatically appoint the first runner-up in presidential elections as the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament.
During a meeting today with UPC President Jimmy Akena, Secretary General Fred Ebil, and other party members, Lumu begun by presenting his proposal to the UPC Leadership, but Akena criticized the move, arguing that it undermines the constitution of political parties and could have far-reaching consequences for the country’s democratic processes.
Akena urged Lumu to focus on critical national issues rather than tinkering with the administration of Parliament. The proposal has sparked widespread debate and criticism, with many arguing that it could erode the independence and legitimacy of the opposition.
Akena however welcomed some aspects of the bill, but emphasized that the UPC constitution dictates that the party’s leader in Parliament must be a senior member.
“In the UPC constitution, the leader of the UPC Party in Parliament is a more senior member, and it is a constitutional issue,” Akena explained. “You cannot use a parliamentary procedure to overturn a party’s constitutional structure. Our leader in the party is a senior member, and no other candidate can come from anywhere to be the Leader of the Opposition.”
Lumu, who is also the Deputy Opposition Chief Whip in Parliament, has been granted leave to draft the Administration of Parliament Bill, 2024, which seeks to introduce elections for the office of the Leader of the Opposition. However, the UPC’s stance indicates that the proposal may face significant opposition from other political parties.
