New Bill Tabled in Parliament Seeking to Change How Leader of the Opposition is Elected

A fresh legislative push in the Ugandan Parliament aims to reshape how opposition leadership is selected and managed within the House. Hon. Denis Namara, the Member of Parliament for Buyaga West County, has formally introduced the Administration of Parliament (Amendment) Bill, 2026.

The proposed legislation seeks to amend the Administration of Parliament Act of 2005. Under the current legal framework, the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) is chosen solely by the single opposition party holding the greatest numerical strength in Parliament. However, Namara’s bill proposes that the LoP be elected directly by all members of parliament belonging to political parties in opposition to the government.

Furthermore, the bill aims to enforce formal cooperation among various opposition factions. It requires the LoP to consult opposition parties when appointing the shadow cabinet, nominating members to the Parliamentary Commission, and designating MPs to regional and international bodies such as the East African Legislative Assembly and the Pan-African Parliament. It also outlines clear grounds for removing an incumbent LoP, including physical or mental infirmity, misbehavior, misconduct, or incompetence through a parliamentary vote of censure supported by more than half of all MPs.

Notably, the bill reached its first reading without the traditionally required certificate of financial implications. Speaker Jacob Oboth referred the matter to the Committee on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs without putting it to a vote, noting that the Ministry of Finance failed to respond within the mandated 60-day window after the Clerk to Parliament requested the document in August.

Read the full report on the Parliament of Uganda.