By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
KAMPALA
The Democratic Party (DP) have expressed readiness to challenge a Private Member’s Bill 2024, moved by their own, Hon. Richard Lumu which proposes for the election of the Leader of the Opposition and the Chief Opposition Whip by Opposition Members of Parliament.
Accordingly, DP says media reports have been associating the bill to the party because the mover is their subscribing member. They however distanced themselves from the bill stating that it does not represent the views of Democratic Party.
Ismail Kiirya, Acting DP Spokesperson said during a media briefing on Tuesday that the party does not have interest in the bill stating that it is against multiparty dispensation.
“We disassociate with the legislation because it undermines multiparty dispensation which DP fought for […] We want to inform the general public that DP is ready to go and challenge that bill at a committee level, and in court if it is passed into law and at all levels where it comes because it is not serving the interest of DP. DP is ready to defend multiparty dispensation,'” said Kiirya.
During the Northern Uganda regional parliamentary sitting last week, parliament granted permission to Mityana South county member of parliament, also a member of DP, Hon. Richard Lumu permission to present a Private Member’s Bill seeking to change the process by electing the LoP and Chief Opposition Whip through a vote by opposition and Independent MPs.
However, Kiirya said the bill was moved in bad faith and serves the interest of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) and disempowers multiparty democracy. He appealed to MPs on the opposition side to raise up in big numbers and block the bill once it is presented on the floor of parliament for debate.
The UYD President further suggested more amendments in the bill to give more powers to parties to withdraw any person recommended to parliament in any capacity.
DP is not the first party to reject Lumu’s bill. On Monday, FDC spokesperson, John Kikonyogo said the bill undermines democratic principles, opposition unity and asked the leading opposition political party, National Unity Platform (NUP) to provide leadership against the bill.
“As FDC, we strongly oppose the amendment moved by Hon. Lumu, believing it’s driven by bad faith and aims to disempower opposition political parties institutions. We support maintaining the status quo,” said Kikonyogo.
Additionally, NRM Deputy spokesperson Emmanuel Ddombo accused Lumu of making alterations in the bill than what he presented in Gulu such as a clause requiring the deputy speaker of parliament coming from the opposition. Ddombo asked Lumu, to desist from discussing the bill in the media before it has been tabled to parliament.
