The promoter of the private member’s bill to elect the leader of the opposition, Mityana South MP Richard Lumu, has broadened his amendments to the Administration of Parliament Bill by proposing that the deputy speaker be drawn from the opposition in parliament and also having the fifth parliament’s commissioner to cater to the interests of smaller political parties in parliament.
Lumu while addressing the media at parliament said that he wants the constitution amended for the deputy speaker to come from the opposition.
“I’m proposing that i want the constitution to be amended to include that the deputy speaker of parliament should come from the opposition, that is what I want ,I don’t know why were are here there two sides ,one is the opposition another one from government but all speakers are coming from one side of the government ,what stops us from having the deputy speaker coming from the opposition ,someone must tell me about it ,I think that would be the hardest where people would be making all kinds of arguments including those ones which are unnecessary”,Lumu said.
He proposed that the minority parties in the Opposition elect a commissioner of parliament in addition to one of the main opposition parties in parliament.
“I am further proposing that there must be another Commissioner within the Commission to represent all other small political parties in Parliament. Why? The other four are representing the NRM, one representing the Biggest Party in Opposition then what of the others? Then let the others also elect their Commissioner to represent their interests”,Lumu added.
He also said that new amendments will front a proposal to have the First runner-up in the national presidential election go to parliament as an EX–official.
“if there is a National general election and the second runners up gets half or more of the winner, that person should go to parliament as an ex-official member of parliament, why ? because most of the MPs here, there are even mps who come with 3000 -4000 votes but you find a man who has been standing for president he has got 3.8 million votes and he is out of parliament, so am suggesting if such scenario happens, let that person appear here as a member of parliament as an ex-official”,Lumu added .
Richard Lumu (Mityana South) has described people accusing him of fighting the Opposition through his proposal to have MPs vote their own Leader of Opposition as shallow and myopic, wondering why when the same proposal was fronted in the 10th Parliament, FDC didn’t attack or malign the mover, Medard Sseggona, like he is being attacked.
“I am also seeing people saying, ahhh this Lumu, he is being supported by Government and the President. Whoever is thinking like that is either shallow or myopic because we have been here in Parliament, we were elected in our constituencies. So, I don’t want people to reduce this Bill to one person, I have heard one person say that you, you are fighting the Leader of Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi”,said Lumu .
He stated that his proposal to elect the leader of opposition in parliament would have the leading Opposition party, nominate three names of MPs for the entire opposition in parliament to elect one.
Lumu also wants independent members of parliament to elect their whip instead of being whipped by the speaker of parliament.
In his proposals, MP Lumu wants the opposition shadow ministers and the committee selected to chair opposition committees in parliament to be vetted by the opposition caucus.
“I also propose that shadow ministers after being appointed they should appear in the opposition caucus for vetting, the same should be done the chairperson and deputy chairpersons of committees why should you represent us when we don’t have a say ?.He questioned.
