Uganda Law Society (ULS) President Isaac Ssemakadde has sharply criticised a proposed bill backed by the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) seeking to alter the process of appointing the Leader of the Opposition, terming it unconstitutional and politically misguided.
In a response, Ssemakadde dismissed the initiative as legally untenable, warning that it threatens the core principles of multiparty democracy.
“The suggested PLU Bill is a fool’s errand. A wild-goose chase,” he stated, signalling escalating resistance from legal and civil society actors.
The proposed legislation, currently being fronted by PLU-aligned legislators, seeks to amend the Administration of Parliament Act to allow a broader group of MPs—including independents—to participate in the selection of the Leader of the Opposition.
The move is widely seen as targeting current LoP Joel Ssenyonyi, whose position is anchored in the National Unity Platform’s majority status among opposition parties.
However, Ssemakadde argues that such changes would violate constitutional protections on political association.
“The right to freedom of association—the basis of multiparty democracy—includes the right not to associate,” he said. “Parliament of Uganda has no power to direct a merger of opposition political parties and/or independents.”
His remarks strike at the heart of the legal debate surrounding the bill, particularly whether Parliament can redefine internal opposition structures without infringing on party autonomy.
Legal analysts note that the current framework allows the largest opposition party to designate the LoP, a system designed to preserve party cohesion and ideological clarity.
Critics of the PLU-backed proposal warn that expanding the voting base could dilute opposition strength and open the process to political manipulation.
There are also concerns about the broader implications of the bill, including the potential reshaping of parliamentary committees and oversight roles.