By Aggrey Baba
Bukoto Central MP Richard Ssebamala’s ongoing hostilities on Leader of the Opposition (LoP) may have less to do with a bid for the opposition’s top parliamentary office than with quiet negotiations that could culminate into him joining President Museveni’s government, according to sources familiar with the matter.
For weeks, Ssebamala (who in a Monday phone interview vigorously dismissed the reports as merely fabricated to diminish his political credibility) has distinguished himself as one of Ssenyonyi’s fiercest critics from the opposition universe, accusing him of failing to account for funds allocated to the Office of LoP. Sebamala is backing the proposed legal reforms to change how the LoP is chosen. He has gone to the extent of sometimes defending the CDF against criticism from government opposers.
His verbal attacks have coincided with an increasingly coordinated campaign by politicians aligned to the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) calling for Ssenyonyi’s removal from office.
Many inside NUP are now suspicious that Sebamala could be working to appease people in the establishment in return for a ministerial posting. Well briefed sources say he could land the Internal Affairs docket which originally had been given to Prof Lawrence Muganga.
Initially, many people interpreted Ssebamala’s outspoken criticism as evidence that he was positioning himself for Ssenyonyi’s office should the efforts to amend the Administration of Parliament Act succeed.
However, sources within the Democratic Party (DP) and government circles now say that assessment may have been misplaced, adding that Ssebamala is instead headed for a ministerial appointment in the anticipated government reshuffle, specifically as Minister of State for Internal Affairs, a position which became vacant after the President’s earlier nominee, Dr. Lawrence Muganga, failed to secure parliamentary approval following questions surrounding his citizenship status.
The docket continues to remains vacant yet there is simply too much work for old man Prof Ephraim Kamuntu.
The revelations come days after Parliament granted Buyaga West MP Dennis Namara leave to introduce the Administration of Parliament (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which seeks to change how LoP is chosen, a proposed law, if enacted, would allow all opposition MPs, including independent ones, not just the largest opposition party, to elect and determine who becomes the LoP while introducing new accountability and removal mechanisms for the office.
Ssebamala has publicly welcomed the proposal, arguing that the current arrangement gives NUP excessive control over an office funded by taxpayers.
His position sharply contrasts with that of NUP MPs, who insist that the Constitution deliberately gives the largest opposition party the exclusive mandate to designate LoP.
Constitutional experts have similarly argued that under the current law, neither Parliament nor PLU has the legal authority to remove Ssenyonyi, and that the office can only be vacated if NUP withdraws its nomination, Ssenyonyi resigns, loses his parliamentary seat or ceases to belong to the party.
Many say Ssebamala’s aggressive rhetoric has nevertheless strengthened perceptions that he has become one of the loudest opposition voices defending government positions.
His criticism has extended beyond parliamentary reforms to defending Gen. Muhoozi over his public bust ups with opposition leaders, including NUP deputy president for Buganda, Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi. The appointment of Sebamala could be bad news for his DP party boss Norbert Mao with whom they don’t see eye to eye. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
