Shock Move! Bill to Unseat Joel Ssenyonyi as Leader of Opposition Returns to Parliament

A controversial proposal that could change how Uganda’s Leader of the Opposition is elected and removed has returned to the spotlight after the Administration of Parliament (Amendment) Bill, 2026, was published in the Uganda Gazette. The Bill, sponsored by Buyaga West County MP Dennis Namara, could affect the position currently held by National Unity Platform (NUP) leader Joel Ssenyonyi.

The Bill was listed as Bill No. 15 in the Uganda Gazette, Volume CXIX, No. 95, dated October 23, 2026. Gazetting is an important step in the legislative process, allowing the proposal to move towards consideration by Parliament, but it does not mean the proposed changes have already become law.

One of the major proposals is to allow all opposition MPs to elect the Leader of the Opposition instead of leaving the decision to the opposition party with the largest number of legislators. Under the current arrangement, the party with the greatest numerical strength in Parliament selects the officeholder, although it may consult other opposition parties and independent MPs.

Namara has argued that the existing system gives one political party considerable control over an office expected to represent the wider opposition. He says allowing all opposition legislators to participate would broaden representation and give MPs from smaller parties and independent lawmakers a say in choosing the person responsible for scrutinising government policies.

The proposed amendments would also require opposition MPs to approve the Shadow Cabinet through a parliamentary resolution. The Leader of the Opposition would be expected to consult opposition parties, organisations and independent legislators when making appointments to parliamentary leadership positions, rather than relying solely on consultations with party leaders.

Another significant provision introduces additional grounds for removing the Leader of the Opposition, including misconduct, incompetence and inability to perform official duties because of infirmity of body or mind. The Bill also proposes that the current officeholder leave the position three months after the proposed law comes into force, followed by a fresh election under the new framework.

The proposal comes amid a public dispute involving Ssenyonyi and Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the Chief of Defence Forces and head of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU). Muhoozi has called for Ssenyonyi’s removal in posts on X, while PLU-affiliated legislators have been encouraged to explore ways of unseating him. PLU has since backed the proposed amendments, with Kasambya County MP David Kabanda announcing the organisation’s support.

The renewed push follows earlier attempts to change the law, including proposals by former MPs Andrew Aja Baryayanga and Richard Lumu. Lumu’s 2024 Bill also sought to give all opposition MPs a role in electing the Leader of the Opposition and Opposition Chief Whip, but it faced resistance from several opposition parties and was withdrawn in March 2026. Namara’s Bill now reopens the debate over who should choose the opposition’s parliamentary leader, how the officeholder should be held accountable and whether the proposed changes could reshape the balance of power within Uganda’s opposition.