MP moots bill to have LOP elected by House

Kabale Municipality legislator Andrew Aja Baryayanga has finalised the drafting of a private members bill dubbed the "Administration of Parliament Amendment Bill 2018" that among others seeks to have the leader of opposition and the chief whip elected by all opposition legislators.

Baryayanga also wants the parliamentary commissioners to be elected by the House as opposed to parties proposing names.

The MP said the bill is ready for the first reading and he is only waiting for the ministry of Finance to issue him with a certificate of financial implication.

"Once the bill is passed, all opposition legislators will have a hand in deciding who their leader of opposition or chief whip should be. There will be a secret ballot election," he said.

The current law mandates the opposition party with majority of the legislators in the House to appoint both the leader of opposition and the opposition whip.

The bill also requires all committee members to vote their committee chairpersons and deputies.

Baryayanga said the bill intends to see to it that independent MPs, like him, have a representation on the Parliamentary Commission. Currently the commission comprises of MPs seconded by their parties.