These proposals are included in the 2026/27–2030/31 legislative agenda prepared by the Office of the Leader of the Opposition in the 12th Parliament. At the heart of the agenda is a call for Parliament to act more independently and strengthen oversight of the executive.
Opposition Leader Joel Ssenyonyi said Parliament should not become a rubber stamp for government initiatives. «Parliament was never intended to be a stopover for government proposals», Mr Ssenyonyi said, adding that lawmakers must scrutinize policy and expenditure carefully and hold officials accountable for the use of public funds. He stressed that a strong opposition remains an important safeguard against abuse of power.
The opposition intends to push for a review of Uganda’s rules governing public meetings and demonstrations. It proposes consolidating provisions contained in the Penal Code, the Police Act and the Public Order Management Act into a single legal framework. According to the opposition, conflicting interpretations of what constitutes an «unlawful assembly» create legal uncertainty and can be used to restrict lawful protests. It also proposes removing provisions that allow arrests to be made based on an officer’s subjective judgment rather than the actual conduct of participants. The package of proposals clarifies who qualifies as an «authorized person» and establishes a duty for authorities to formally acknowledge receipt of notifications for public events. The opposition says these changes would bring the law more in line with Article 29 of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of assembly, demonstration and petition.
The proposed reforms also seek to reduce delays in Uganda’s criminal justice system. The opposition is calling for the abolition of committal proceedings in capital offences, describing them as a colonial-era relic that unnecessarily prolongs cases. Instead, suspects in such cases would be sent directly to the High Court. Magistrates’ courts would also have their criminal jurisdiction expanded, except in cases of treason and terrorism. The opposition further insists that the High Court should sit on a permanent basis rather than in periodic sessions, arguing that expanding the judiciary would help address the growing backlog of cases. The agenda also includes provisions on digital justice, pre-trial disclosure and plea bargaining, as well as a clearer career path for magistrates.
Another proposal concerns people found mentally unfit during criminal proceedings. The opposition says decisions in such cases should be made by courts rather than the minister, as is currently the case. It proposes that courts seek expert mental health assessments, set maximum detention periods and use terminology consistent with the Mental Health Act. The proposal comes amid concerns over cases in which accused persons remained in custody for long periods; one example cited by the opposition involved a 14-year detention.
The opposition is also calling for legislation to regulate the transfer of presidential power. The proposed Presidential Transition Bill would establish an official framework for handover, including state-funded office space, staff and administrative support. In addition, the opposition proposes limiting the number of presidential advisers and structuring their functions around defined thematic areas. It plans tighter oversight of supplementary budgets for the Office of the President and penalties for spending beyond approved limits. A separate law would regulate presidential donations by setting an annual cap and introducing transparent, verifiable criteria for selecting beneficiaries.
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