Jury is out on 11th Parliament Leader of Opposition

“I am not the most experienced. I am not the most educated of the team. I might not even be the most deserving.”

The newly appointed Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Ssenyonyi Joel, declared. He seemed coming to the top with an inferiority complex and not too sure about his abilities being the Leader of the Opposition and leading his shadow cabinet.

Which begs the questions:

Did Hon. Ssenyonyi choose and appoint the shadow cabinet for his term or was it chosen and appointed for him? If the latter, how then is he going to lead it to check government?

Here is the list of the second shadow cabinet of the 11th Parliament (information Source: Business Focus) and which is southern half of the country dominated and also male dominated:

Top Echelon

Leader of Opposition – Hon. Ssenyonyi Joel
Chief Opposition Whip- Hon. Nambeshe John Baptist
Deputy Chief Whip – Hon. Zaake Francis Butebi
Commissioner of Parliament – Hon. Mpuuga Nsamba Mathias

Shadow Ministers

Minister of Human Rights – Hon. Malende Shamim
Minister of Kampala Capital City – Hon. Ronald Nsubuga Balimwezo
Minister of Land, Housing and Urban Development – Hon. Paulson Luttamaguzi Ssemakula
Minister of Foreign Affairs – Hon. Muwada Nkunyingi
Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development – Hon Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda
Minister of Internal Affairs – Hon. Betty Nambooze Bakireke
Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs – Hon. Karim Masaba
Minister of Education – Hon. Joseph Ssewungu Gonzaga
Minister of Local Government – Hon. Betty Ethel Naluyima
Minister of Health – Hon. Timothy Batuwa
Minister of Works and Transport – Hon. Mwijukye Francis
Minister of Public Service – Hon. Anna Odeke Ebaju
Minister of Agriculture – Hon. Nyakato Asinasi
Minister of Water and Environment – Hon. Christine Kkaaya Nakimwero
Minister of Science Innovation and Technology – Hon. Okin PP Ojara
Minister of Culture and Performing Arts – Hon. Kiyaga Hilary
Minister of Cooperatives and Micro Finance – Hon. Joan Achom Alobo
Minister of Sports – Hon. Kayemba Solo
Minister of Animal Industries and Fisheries – Hon. Mugabi Suzan
Minister of East African Affairs – Hon. Akello Lucy
Minister of Special Regions (Luweero, Karamoja, Northern, Bunyoro, Teso) – Hon. Okot Santa
Minister of Information and Anti-Corruption – Hon. Nakimuli Hellen
Minister of Trade and Industry – Hon. Manjeri Kyebakutikka
Minister for the Presidency – Hon. Zaake Francis Butebi
Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs – Hon. Jonathan Odur
Minister of Energy and Minerals – Hon. Evans Kanyike
Minister of Tourism and Industry – Hon. Nyeko Derrick
Minister of Youth and Children Affairs – Hon. Kabuye Frank
Minister of Gender Labour and Social Development – Hon Nantongo Fortunate

The Attorney General

Attorney General – Hon. Wilfred Nuwagaba

Heads of Parliamentary Committees

Chairperson Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities, and State Enterprises (COSASE) – Hon. Medard Lubega Sseggona
Deputy Chairperson COSASE – Hon. Allan Mayanja
Chairperson Public Accounts Committee – Hon. Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi
Deputy Chairperson Public Accounts Committee – Hon. Namugga Gorret
Chairperson Local Governments Accounts Committee – Hon. Gilbert Olanya
Vice Chairperson Local Government Accounts Committee – Hon. Kawalya Abubaker
Chairperson Government Assurance Committee – Hon. Abed Bwanika
Deputy Chairperson Government Assurance Committee – Hon. Joyce Bagala

Representatives to Other Parliamentary Bodies

Representative to Pan African Parliament – Hon. Patrick Nsamba Oshabe
Representative to Caribbean/EU parliament – Hon. Hanifa Nabukeera
Representative to Interparliamentary Union – Hon. Flavia Kalule Nabagab
Representative to Parliamentary Union of Organization of Islamic Countries – Hon. Hassan Kirumira
Representative on Parliamentary Pension Scheme – Hon. Aisha Kabanda Nalule
Representative to Commonwealth Parliament – Hon. Kalwanga David Lukyamuzi

“The mandate of the Leader of the Opposition is derived from Article 82A of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, 1995, as amended and the Administration of Parliament (Amendment) Act, 2006.

The Leader of the Opposition appoints a Shadow Cabinet, whose members hold portfolios similar to those of government Cabinet Ministers in line with Section 6E(2) of the Administration of Parliament (Amendment) Act, 2006.

The Shadow Cabinet assists the Leader of the Opposition in keeping the government in check.”
Parliament of Uganda

Why was Leader of Opposition Mpuuga replaced?

Civic activism rooted in humanism is the mission of blogger Norah Owaraga

Deducing from media reports, I fail to appreciate why the leadership of National Unity Platform (NUP), the opposition party with the most members in the 11^th parliament, decided to cause change of the Leader of the Opposition mid-term and subsequently a change in the shadow cabinet.

Yes, I appreciate that there is a mandatory mid-term review of the Leader of the Opposition, but that does not mean there must be change.

How exactly and in what way did Hon. Mpuuga Nsamba Mathias fail to fulfill the mandate of the Leader of the Opposition?
Was it in his choice of shadow cabinet?
Was it him who chose his cabinet or was it chosen for him?
Did he fail to delegate to his shadow cabinet?
Did he fail to coordinate and inspire his shadow cabinet?
How is it that his leadership caused him and his cabinet, together, to fail to keep the government in check?
How did he and his shadow cabinet fail to keep the government in check?

Apparently, it is not so much because he failed that Hon. Mpuuga was removed. The reason for his removal and replacement was simply in the “spirit of changing leadership,” the NUP party president, Hon. Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi is quoted as having said.

In fact, it is reported that Hon. Kyagulanyi, praised and thanked Hon. Mpuuga for having selflessly served, albeit being a “punching bag for those who matter and those who don’t.”

I wonder who the ones who matter are who threw punches at Hon. Mpuuga. Could it be members of his own party, including his fellow members in the 11th parliament? It is feasible.

Hon Mpuuga’s plea for support of the new Leader of the Opposition is telling, indeed. He is reported as having pleaded:

“If you believe in a new better Uganda, back the new team leader. Advise him, don’t back-stab him and don’t downplay his efforts.”

Uganda is now full on in campaign season for the 2026 elections and the jury is out, me thinks, on the manner in which NUP handled the Leader of Opposition saga and switch. The chickens are coming home to roost.

The Explorer reports Hon. Mpuuga, who is now a political party president of another political party, the Democratic Front (DF), has declared he and his party will campaign for the incumbent, Candidate President Museveni and the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) Party during the 2026 elections.

A significant blow to NUP, considering Buganda is its stronghold and it is likely from Buganda Hon. Mpuuga will be campaigning for President Museveni and the NRM.

Civic activism rooted in humanism is the mission of blogger Norah Owaraga.

Will Hon. Mpuga and his ilk prevail?
Will they succeed in disorganizing NUP in Buganda?
Will they succeed in reducing the number of MPs NUP will return from Buganda?
If Hon. Mpuuga succeeds, to take away a chunk of MPs for Buganda from NUP and bequeath them to NRM, will NUP be able to counter by getting MPs in the current NRM strongholds?
Will NUP retain the 2nd largest number of MPs in the 12th Parliament?

These are the more interesting questions for me going into the 2026 elections.

First published in December 2023 and updated 27th September 2025.