Buyaga West County MP Dennis Namara’s Administration of Parliament (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which seeks to change how Parliament elects, supervises and removes the Leader of the Opposition, has been published in the Uganda Gazette, paving the way for its consideration by Parliament.

The Bill is listed as Bill No. 15 in Volume CXIX, No. 95 of the Uganda Gazette dated October 23, 2026.

It proposes giving all opposition Members of Parliament a direct role in electing the Leader of the Opposition, replacing the current arrangement under which the opposition party with the largest number of MPs selects the officeholder.

The Bill also proposes requiring opposition MPs to approve the Shadow Cabinet, expanding the grounds for removing the Leader of the Opposition and broadening consultations on appointments to parliamentary leadership positions.

Namara, who represents Buyaga West County in Kagadi District, secured Parliament’s permission to introduce the Private Member’s Bill on July 8, 2026, following a plenary debate chaired by Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa.

While moving the motion, Namara argued that the existing law gives one opposition party control over the selection of a leader expected to represent the wider opposition in Parliament.

He said the arrangement limits the participation of MPs from other opposition parties and independent legislators in choosing the person responsible for scrutinising government policies and holding the Executive accountable.

Under the proposed amendments, the Leader of the Opposition would also be required to consult opposition parties, organisations and independent MPs when appointing opposition representatives to parliamentary leadership positions.

The proposal follows an earlier attempt to reform the selection of the Leader of the Opposition through a similar Bill introduced in the 10th Parliament by former Mityana County MP Richard Kizito Lumu. That Bill was withdrawn in March 2026 after failing to secure support from the opposition.

The gazetting of Namara’s Bill marks a step in the legislative process. The proposed amendments would still require parliamentary consideration and approval before becoming law.