CONFIRMED: Bobi Wine finally drops Mpuuga as Leader of Opposition
According to the Administration of Parliament Act, as amended in 2006, the office of the Leader of Opposition is equivalent to that of a Cabinet Minister and enjoys such privileges as those that accrue to the Cabinet Minister.
Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi (Nakawa-West) member of parliament has been chosen as the incoming Leader of the Opposition, succeeding Hon. Mathias Mpuuga (Nyendo Mukungwe, Masaka City), who is now a Commissioner of Parliament.
Ssenyonyi will be replacing Mpuuga since his term in office had elapsed after two and half years.
Speaking after the announcement, Ssenyonyi revealed that Mpuuga has offered to keep guiding him as he takes on his new role.
“I am not the most educated or experienced among the opposition members. I might not even be the most deserving to be appointed LoP, according to some people, but suh is leadership,” he said.
In Uganda, the Leader of the Opposition (LOP) is the leader of the largest political party in the Parliament of Uganda that is not in government. The Leader of the Opposition appoints and heads an alternative shadow cabinet whose duty it is to challenge and influence governmental actions and legislation on the floor of Parliament.
The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has been providing opposition leadership in parliament for the last 15 years, since the rebirth of multiparty politics in Uganda, due to its numerical strength. But FDC was beaten to the trophy by NUP with 61 against 36 MPs during the 2021 general elections.
According to the Administration of Parliament Act, as amended in 2006, the office of the Leader of Opposition is equivalent to that of a Cabinet Minister and enjoys such privileges as those that accrue to the Cabinet Minister.
The constitution further states that the Leader of the Opposition shall under subsection (1), in consultation with his or her party leadership, appoint a shadow cabinet from members of the opposition in Parliament with portfolios and functions that correspond to those of Cabinet Ministers.
“The Leader of the Opposition shall be a member of the Committee of Parliament responsible for determining and scheduling of business in Parliament and the Committee responsible for appointments and shall hold regular consultations with the Leader of Government Business and the Speaker,” states the constitution.
The Leader of the Opposition shall study all policy statements of government with his or her shadow ministers and attend committee deliberations on policy issues and give their party’s views and opinions and propose possible alternatives.
