Opinion : Electing LOP – Multiparty System, A Mockery Under the Museveni Regime

Uganda’s political landscape has long been characterized by its hybrid system, a mix of parliamentary and presidential elements. However, the current debate over the election of the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Parliament highlights a significant irony within this system. At the heart of this irony lies the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and its leader, President Yoweri Museveni. The regime initially believed that every Leader of Opposition would be easily compromised and silenced, but as political dynamics have shifted, the NRM is now seeking to amend the law to allow opposition MPs to elect the LoP. This move comes at a time when the regime believes it has effectively captured several parties in the opposition, allowing them to install a compliant “opposition leader” who will tow the NRM line. This is not just a strategic maneuver by the regime; it is a direct affront to the principles of democracy and a multiparty system.

The Multiparty System: A Mockery Under the NRM Regime

In a genuine multiparty democracy, the majority party forms the government, while the opposition, led by the largest minority party, forms a shadow government. The purpose of the shadow government is to offer alternative policies and hold the ruling party accountable. This system ensures that the government cannot operate unchecked and that there is always a viable alternative for the electorate.

However, Uganda’s current political climate under the NRM regime turns this principle on its head. The NRM has systematically undermined the essence of a multiparty system, reducing opposition parties to mere spectators in a political arena dominated by a single party. The very idea of a shadow government is rendered meaningless when the opposition is compromised or controlled by the ruling party. The proposal to have the LoP elected by opposition MPs, while seemingly democratic on the surface, is a calculated move by the regime to ensure that the opposition remains fragmented and ineffective.

The NRM’s strategy of capturing the opposition is not new. Over the years, the regime has used various tactics to weaken and divide opposition parties. These include co-opting opposition leaders with offers of government positions, financial incentives, and other benefits, as well as using the state machinery to intimidate and harass those who refuse to comply. The current push to amend the law to allow opposition MPs to elect the LoP is just the latest in a long line of such tactics.

The regime’s goal is clear: to install a compliant LoP who will not challenge the status quo but rather serve as a token opposition leader. By doing so, the NRM can create the illusion of a functioning democracy while maintaining its stranglehold on power. The regime’s belief that it has successfully captured several opposition parties only emboldens it to pursue this agenda more aggressively.

Uganda’s political system, being a hybrid of parliamentary and presidential elements, places significant power in the hands of the President. The Leader of Government Business in Parliament, for instance, is appointed by the President, reflecting the executive’s control over the legislative agenda. This centralization of power is one of the key reasons why the LoP must be appointed by the main opposition party, not elected by a coalition of opposition MPs.

If the LoP were to be elected by all opposition MPs, it could lead to a situation where the LoP does not represent the views of the party that is supposed to form the shadow government. Different opposition parties have different ideologies and policy priorities, and a LoP elected by a broad coalition of opposition MPs may struggle to maintain a consistent and coherent policy platform. This would weaken the opposition’s ability to effectively challenge the ruling party and hold the government accountable.

Moreover, if the LoP is elected by all opposition MPs, it would logically follow that the Leader of Government Business should be elected by MPs of the ruling party. This would create a situation where both the government and the opposition are led by individuals who may not fully represent the policies and priorities of their respective parties, further weakening the integrity of the political system.

The current debate over the election of the LoP also highlights the hypocrisy of Uganda’s political elite. Hon. Ssegona, for example, had previously moved a motion in the last parliament expressing his dissatisfaction with the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) appointing the LoP. However, now that his party, the National Unity Platform (NUP), is the main opposition party, he appears comfortable with the very arrangement he once opposed.

This inconsistency is indicative of a broader problem within Uganda’s political landscape: the prioritization of personal and party interests over the principles of democracy. Instead of fighting for a genuine multiparty system, many opposition MPs are more concerned with securing their own benefits within the NRM’s authoritarian framework. This has led to a situation where the opposition is divided and ineffective, unable to mount a serious challenge to the ruling party.

The NRM’s push to have the LoP elected by opposition MPs is a stark reminder that there is no real democracy in Uganda today. The country’s political system is designed to perpetuate the power of the NRM and President Museveni, while giving the illusion of democratic processes. The opposition is allowed to exist, but only within the confines set by the regime. Any attempt by the opposition to operate independently is met with repression, intimidation, and co-optation.

In this context, the proposal to elect the LoP is nothing more than a farce. It is a move designed to further weaken the opposition and ensure that the NRM’s hold on power remains unchallenged. Well-meaning opposition MPs should be fighting against this scheme, not supporting it. They should be pushing for reforms that would create a truly democratic system, where opposition parties can operate freely and effectively, and where the LoP is appointed based on merit and policy alignment, not as a result of political maneuvering by the ruling party.

Uganda’s political system is at a crossroads. The NRM’s attempts to control the opposition and undermine the principles of democracy are a clear indication that the country is moving further away from the ideals of a multiparty system. The proposal to have the LoP elected by opposition MPs is just the latest in a series of moves designed to weaken the opposition and entrench the NRM’s power.

If Uganda is to become a true democracy, these tactics must be resisted. The opposition must unite and fight for a political system that allows for genuine competition and accountability. This means rejecting the NRM’s attempts to control the opposition and pushing for reforms that will create a level playing field for all political parties. Only then can Uganda hope to build a political system that truly reflects the will of the people and upholds the principles of democracy.