10/7/2026
Uganda’s Parliament on Wednesday granted Buyaga West MP Dennis Namara leave to introduce a Private Member’s Bill seeking to amend the Administration of Parliament Act, clearing the way for legislation that could reshape how the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) and other key parliamentary office bearers are selected.
The Speaker put the motion before the House, and it was carried by voice vote, allowing Namara to formally table the Administration of Parliament (Amendment) Bill, 2026 for first reading.
The bill has attracted widespread political attention because it proposes changes to Section 8 of the Administration of Parliament Act, including allowing both opposition and independent Members of Parliament to participate in the election of the Leader of the Opposition.
It also proposes reforms to the process of selecting Parliamentary Commissioners and leaders of parliamentary committees.
Namara has argued that the current system gives excessive influence to a handful of party leaders.
Now the LoP is selected from Kavule by some few individuals without consulting other opposition members of Parliament. We are seconding the motion for purposes of ensuring accountability and deepening democracy and multi-party political dispensation,” he said while seeking leave.
Under the current law, the Leader of the Opposition is nominated by the political party with the largest numerical strength in opposition and is formally appointed by the Speaker. The office is currently held by National Unity Platform’s Joel Ssenyonyi.
The proposed legislation comes amid an intense political campaign led by Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who has repeatedly called for Ssenyonyi’s removal.
Over the past month, Muhoozi has posted a series of messages on X saying he wanted “a new Leader of the Opposition” and had instructed the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) to study how Ssenyonyi could be removed
He also said outgoing PLU Secretary General Daudi Kabanda had been authorised to lead the effort in Parliament and later declared that the process of appointing “our own Leader of the Opposition” had begun.
Kabanda subsequently said the effort would be pursued through legal means, posting that “the process of getting the new Leader of Opposition has officially commenced” and that it would be achieved “legally.”
The convergence of those statements with Namara’s legislative proposal has fuelled debate over whether the bill is intended to pave the way for replacing Ssenyonyi, an assertion its proponents reject, saying the amendments are intended to broaden participation in parliamentary leadership decisions and strengthen internal democracy.
With Parliament having granted leave, Namara is now expected to formally introduce the bill for consideration. It will then undergo the normal legislative process, including committee scrutiny, public consultations and debate before lawmakers vote on the proposed amendments.
