Government of Uganda has strongly defended the current process of electing the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Parliament, firmly rejecting attempts to change it. This was revealed by Jackson Kafuuzi, the Deputy Attorney General, in his written submission to the Legal & Parliamentary Affairs Committee, to provide the Government’s views on the Administration of Parliament Amendment Bill, 2024 that was tabled by Richard Lumu, MP for Mityana South.

Kafuuzi asserted that the democratic mandate from the voters would be compromised by the arrangement that LoP could be elected by other opposition groups.

“The Leader of the Opposition is determined by the member of the opposition party with the highest number of MPs in Parliament. It is not a legal requirement that the process be carried out. It is up to the political will of the nation if it were to change,” said Kafuzi.

The government also rejected Lumu’s proposal that allows the Leader of the Opposition to be removed by resolution of members of opposition parties in Parliament. Kafuuzi emphasized that such a provision would undermine the representation given to the party whose strength enables them to wield authority in parliament.

“The Leader of Opposition is appointed through an electoral process, and their removal should not be dictated by parliamentary resolution,” he argued, adding that this approach respects the democratic process established through regular, free, and fair elections.

Kafuuzi also opposed the proposal for additional parliamentary opposition seats for the Minor Parties Leadership, warning that adding a second opposition member among the four commissioners would distort the fundamental principle of choosing representatives based on the number of votes.

Kafuuzi also raised constitutional concerns regarding proposed amendments that could place extra financial strain on the Consolidated Fund, which goes against Article 93(a)(ii) of the Constitution. He emphasized how vital it is for essential executive figures, like the Minister of Finance or the Leader of Government Business, to be present at Parliamentary Commission meetings. This way, there can be accountability and careful monitoring of any decisions that have financial implications.

In conclusion, Kafuuzi stressed that in these terms, it is the intention of the government to maintain a functioning, representative parliament which is responsive to electoral choices and regarding democratic order.

The government’s position shows a strong commitment to keeping parliamentary actions open and accountable to voters, which helps build trust in our democratic system.(explorer)