The Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Joel Ssenyonyi has warned that the Administration of Parliament Amendment Bill 2024 will severely hinder the performance of the office of the Leader of Opposition.

Appearing before the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee chaired by Stephen Baka Mugabi (Bukooli North MP-NRM), Ssenyonyi expressed concern that the bill’s mover, the Mityana South MP, Richard Lumu may be targeting him personally which is unfortunate.

However, he cautioned that they should remember that the Leader of Opposition role is not permanent and could come back to haunt them in future.

Ssenyonyi, also the MP for Nakawa East, emphasized that the amendment would weaken Uganda’s multiparty dispensation and cause more fragmentation within the opposition.

This, he argued, would ultimately give more strength to the ruling party at that time thus stressing that altering the election process for the Leader of Opposition, to involve the whole opposition including the Chief Opposition Whip, would have far-reaching consequences on the administration of Parliament.

By Francis Lubega

16 Oct 2024

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