Mpuuga Elucidates His Reforms: A Case For Constitutional And Electoral Change
The former Leader of the Opposition (LOP) Mathias Mpuuga on Saturday appeared on NTV to make a strong case for his proposed reforms, which have been met with resistance from the leadership of the largest opposition National Unity Platform (NUP).
When Mpuuga addressed a press conference on Wednesday, the current LOP Joel Ssenyonyi impulsively applied what seems to be a normal life for him again seeking to preempt his successor’s ideas via a section of media houses in his office at Parliament.
He said NUP learned of a plan by the government to change the current adult suffrage system of electing a president to a parliamentary system, “but this time, using one of us in the opposition,” referring to Mpuuga.
However, Mpuuga dismissed allegations that he was being used by the regime to push for reforms that would benefit the ruling party, insisting that the current electoral system is flawed, and needs changes, urgently.
“There is a fundamental crisis with the electoral affairs of this country that need urgent change, but we have a challenge with politicians who prefer doing easy things,” former Lop said, “I have even some of them alleging that we want to help the Government in bringing [Constitutional and electoral] reforms!”
He said, “I think that is incompetent politics and I want especially politicians to wake up and act. I concur with them, we cannot achieve all our proposed reforms at ago, but we cannot even fail to get time to sit together and agree on what is achievable.”
Sounding very surprised by Ssenyonyi’s reasoning, Mpuuga asked, “If I have not introduced these reforms, which law bars the government from tabling these electoral reforms if it so wishes? I just do not know how politicians dream.”
He explained that in countries where the opposition is effective, they often lead the discourse, with the government following and explaining its actions.
“Uganda’s opposition is often lagging instead of leading. In countries where the opposition is effective, they often lead the discourse, with the government following and explaining its actions. It is rare to see the opposition [leaders] explaining on behalf of the government,” he said.
He thus emphasized that it is not true that the government has the sole duty to introduce bills to parliament and that MPs have the power to introduce private member’s bills.
“In the ninth Parliament, we had Hon. Wilfred Niwagaba introduce reforms and in the 10th Parliament, Hon. Medard Sseggona sought to do the same. Who was using those then?” Mpuuga asked.
The Nyendo-Mukungwe MP wondered how some opposition leaders plan to take people back to the electoral circus again in 2026 without making any demands for electoral reforms and have no other objective beyond keeping the status quo.
“When you tell me now that you want to take people back to a circus election, under the same conditions without making demands for some electoral reforms, you will get the same results and start lamentations, I accuse you of being used by the regime.”
The former LOP insisted that this is not the first time he has brought up the issue of reforms and that he has been pushing for constitutional and electoral reforms since 2022 only that he was coerced by the NUP leadership.
In his proposals, the former LOP proposed reducing the size of parliament, restoring presidential limits, and rethinking the decentralization system.
He suggested that one MP and each district by one woman MP, which would reduce the size of parliament by 200 MPs, would represent every county.
The former LOP also proposed establishing an upper chamber, known as the Senate, which would be responsible for checking presidential appointments and sharing the national cake, etc.
Mpuuga emphasized that the current electoral system is not balanced and that the first-past-the-post method has led to a non-balanced parliament.
The former LOP suggested introducing proportional representation, which would allow political parties to get seats according to their percentage strengths.
He also suggested a blend of first-past-the-post and proportional representation when it comes to electing women MPs, and still subject to discussion.
The former LOP emphasized that the electoral commission should be reformed and that the way presidential results are announced needs to be changed.
Constitutional and Electoral Reforms’ brief
- Amendment to allow Ugandans in the diaspora to vote
- Reducing the size of parliament from the current 529 MPs to less than 400 MPs
- Restoration of presidential term limits
- Restoration of Presidential age limits
- Changing the mode of the constitution of the Electoral Commission
- Rethinking the Decentralization model of running local government
- Changing the mode of declaration of presidential elections from the centralized system to the polling station level
- Amendment from the first-past-the-post to a proportional representation system to balance up Parliament