PARLIAMENT, Uganda – Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Joel Ssenyonyi has challenged the government to extend proposed parliamentary leadership reforms to its own officials, questioning why a new Bill seeking to change how opposition leaders are elected and removed does not introduce similar requirements for government positions.
In a video statement responding to the Administration of Parliament (Amendment) Bill, 2026, Ssenyonyi said he was not opposed to democratic reforms but questioned the intentions behind proposals that focus exclusively on opposition leadership.
The Bill, introduced by Buyaga West County Member of Parliament Denis Namara on Wednesday, Nov. 11, seeks to allow opposition MPs to elect the Leader of the Opposition, replacing the current arrangement under which the largest opposition party determines who occupies the position.
Ssenyonyi argued that if the proposed changes are genuinely intended to strengthen democracy, the same principles should apply to the Leader of Government Business, government whips, Cabinet ministers and parliamentary commissioners representing the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
“The mover of the Bill says that his intention is to see that democracy grows and progresses, and we could give him the benefit of the doubt if two boxes would tick,” Ssenyonyi said.
He questioned why the proposed election of the Leader of the Opposition was not accompanied by a similar arrangement for choosing the Leader of Government Business.
According to Ssenyonyi, allowing government and opposition legislators to elect their respective leaders would demonstrate a broader commitment to democratic accountability rather than creating the impression that the reforms are directed at particular individuals.
He also proposed that if Parliament intends to introduce additional mechanisms for censuring the Leader of the Opposition, similar accountability measures should apply to the vice president, prime minister and other government officials.
Ssenyonyi further argued that parliamentary decisions to censure ministers should carry greater consequences rather than leaving their removal dependent on the appointing authority.
The National Unity Platform (NUP) legislator dismissed suggestions that replacing him as Leader of the Opposition would resolve Uganda’s pressing economic and governance challenges.
“It’s odd that some people think that Joel Ssenyonyi, Leader of the Opposition, is the problem of this country,” he said, questioning whether his removal would lower fuel prices, improve the exchange rate or strengthen the economy.
He warned against making laws based on disagreements with individuals occupying public offices, arguing that legislation should serve institutions and future generations rather than respond to temporary political disputes.
“It’s a political blunder to make laws targeting particular individuals,” Ssenyonyi said.
He emphasized that his tenure as Leader of the Opposition would eventually end, but any legislation passed during his time in office could continue shaping parliamentary leadership long after he leaves.
“I’m not the first Leader of the Opposition, and I’m not going to be the last,” he said, adding that lawmakers should consider the long term consequences of their decisions.
Ssenyonyi also rejected what he described as possible attempts to silence his criticism of human rights violations, corruption, abductions and governance failures.
He maintained that his position on these matters would remain unchanged regardless of whether Parliament amended the law governing his office.
“If you think that you will come up with a law to silence me, it’s not going to work,” he declared.
Drawing on previous disagreements within Parliament, Ssenyonyi recalled facing resistance over his criticism of alleged corruption during his earlier parliamentary assignments. He said those experiences had not stopped him from raising concerns about public accountability.
The opposition leader also claimed that some government officials and NRM legislators privately encourage him to speak about governance problems because they fear being misunderstood if they raise the same concerns themselves.
He referred to public statements by former minister Gen. Kahinda Otafiire and NRM historical figure Ofwono Opondo as examples of voices within the ruling establishment that have called for respect for the law.
Ssenyonyi urged government officials uncomfortable with his criticism to address the underlying issues instead of seeking changes that could affect his position.
He insisted that ending alleged abductions, human rights abuses, corruption and other injustices would remove much of the basis for his criticism.
The remarks follow the formal introduction of Namara’s Bill, which also proposes additional grounds for removing the Leader of the Opposition, including misconduct, incompetence and inability to perform official duties.
Under the proposed changes, the sitting Leader of the Opposition would be required to vacate office three months after the law comes into force, allowing a fresh election under the amended framework.
Namara has defended the proposal as an effort to strengthen accountability and ensure that MPs from smaller opposition parties participate in choosing a leader who represents the wider parliamentary opposition.
The proposed legislation has also attracted attention because of earlier calls by Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba for Ssenyonyi’s removal. The Patriotic League of Uganda, which Kainerugaba chairs, has publicly supported efforts to change the law.
The Bill has been referred to Parliament’s Committee on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs for scrutiny before further consideration by the House.
For now, the proposed changes have not become law, and Ssenyonyi remains Leader of the Opposition under the existing parliamentary framework.
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