We Want To See Who Will Stop Us; PLU’s Kabanda Daudi Announces Fresh Move To Remove Ssenyonyi As LoP

The Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) has revived its campaign to remove Joel Ssenyonyi of the National Unity Platform (NUP) from his position as Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, signalling a fresh political contest over the leadership of the opposition.

David Kabanda, head of the office of PLU chairman Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, announced on October 13 that the organisation was resuming its efforts to have Ssenyonyi replaced. “We are resuming the Ssenyonyi issue. We want to see who will sabotage us,” Kabanda said, without revealing the next steps.

The renewed push follows an earlier directive by Gen Muhoozi, who is also Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, in June 2026. Muhoozi tasked Kabanda with pursuing Ssenyonyi’s removal, prompting the PLU official to promise that the matter would be resolved within two weeks. “Count it done Sir. Two weeks are enough!” Kabanda responded at the time, but Ssenyonyi remained in office.

Following that unsuccessful push, PLU-backed legislators turned their attention to changing the law governing the appointment and removal of the Leader of the Opposition. Buyaga West MP Denis Namara and Kibanda North MP Linos Ngompek supported proposals to amend the Administration of Parliament Act, seeking to give all opposition MPs a role in choosing their parliamentary leader.

Under the existing arrangement described in the proposals, the opposition party with the largest number of MPs nominates the Leader of the Opposition. NUP, which has the largest opposition bloc, retained Ssenyonyi in the position on May 28, 2026. Supporters of the proposed reforms argue that involving all opposition legislators would make the selection process more inclusive.

On July 8, 2026, Parliament granted Namara permission to introduce the Administration of Parliament (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The proposed changes would introduce additional grounds for removing the Leader of the Opposition, require broader consultation in selecting opposition parliamentary leaders and give opposition MPs a role in approving the shadow cabinet. In its proposed form, the Bill would also require the incumbent to leave office within three months, allowing a fresh election.

PLU endorsed the proposed amendments on July 9, with Kabanda announcing the organisation’s support on behalf of Gen Muhoozi. However, the proposals have generated debate over the independence of the opposition, with critics warning that changes to the selection process could allow MPs aligned with the ruling National Resistance Movement to influence opposition leadership decisions.

Supporters of the reforms maintain that the position should be accountable to all opposition MPs rather than being determined solely by the largest opposition party. Despite the renewed campaign and proposed legal changes, Ssenyonyi remains Leader of the Opposition in Uganda’s 12th Parliament, as attention turns to PLU’s next move and the possible progress of the proposed amendments.