NUP SHARES PARLIAMENTARY CAKE! Ssenyonyi Retained as LoP as Zaake, Nambeshe, Mwiru, Musisi & Nkunyingi Scoop Big Jobs
The National Unity Platform (NUP), Uganda’s leading opposition party with the biggest number of opposition Members of Parliament, has unveiled a powerful new shadow cabinet and parliamentary leadership team for the 12th Parliament.
The appointments, announced by the opposition leadership in Parliament, are aimed at strengthening oversight, accountability and presenting alternative policies to government programs as the opposition prepares for another heated parliamentary term.
At the centre of the new line-up is Joel Ssenyonyi who has retained the influential position of Leader of Opposition in Parliament, a role he has held since January 2024.
Ssenyonyi survived the political reshuffle after steering the opposition through a turbulent period marked by corruption investigations, governance battles and fierce clashes with the ruling government.
The retention of Ssenyonyi signals continued confidence in his leadership within the Robert Kyagulanyi-led party as NUP positions itself for tougher political battles ahead.
The reshuffle also handed juicy parliamentary positions to several top opposition figures including Francis Zaake, John Baptist Nambeshe, Paul Mwiru, Harriet Nakwedde, George Musisi and Muwada Nkunyingi.
Jinja South Division East MP Paul Mwiru has been appointed the new Chief Opposition Whip, replacing John Baptist Nambeshe who now moves to the powerful Parliamentary Commission as Commissioner of Parliament.
Mwiru now takes charge of coordinating opposition activities and mobilising MPs during parliamentary business.
Kayunga District Woman Representative Harriet Nakwedde was appointed Deputy Chief Opposition Whip and also named Shadow Minister for Presidency, placing her among the most influential figures in the opposition camp.
Among the biggest winners in the reshuffle is Kyadondo East MP Muwada Nkunyingi who has been appointed Chairperson of the powerful Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE), one of Parliament’s most feared accountability committees.
COSASE plays a central role in grilling government agencies, commissions and state enterprises over misuse of public funds and accountability concerns.
Nkunyingi will be deputised by Kira Municipality MP George Musisi.
Firebrand Mityana Municipality MP Francis Zaake also emerged among the biggest winners after being appointed Chairperson of the Committee on Government Assurances and Implementation.
The committee is responsible for tracking government promises, monitoring implementation of official commitments and putting ministries and agencies on the spot over unfulfilled pledges.
Zaake will be deputised by Soroti District Woman Representative Anna Adeke Ebaju.
Other major parliamentary committee appointments include Kassanda County North MP Patrick Nsamba Oshabe as Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), deputised by Jinja City Woman Representative Sarah Lwansasula.
Mukono Municipality MP Betty Nambooze was appointed Chairperson of the Local Government Accounts Committee while Iganga Municipality MP Abed Nasser Mudiobole becomes her deputy.
The opposition also named representatives to various international parliamentary bodies including David Lukyamuzi Kalwanga to the Pan-African Parliament, Fortunate Rose Nantongo to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Hassan Kirumira to the Parliamentary Union of OIC Member States and Brenda Nabukenya to the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
Abubakar Kawalya was appointed to the Parliamentary Pension Scheme while Joan Namutaawe was named representative to the Caribbean-EU Parliamentary Assembly.
NUP also unveiled a full shadow cabinet comprising MPs from NUP and other opposition political parties including the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Democratic Party (DP), Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) and the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), reflecting broader opposition cooperation in Parliament.
Among the notable shadow cabinet appointments, Abdullah Kiwanuka was named Shadow Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs while Dr. Timothy Lusala Batuwa takes over the Health docket.
Former NBS television journalist Zambali Bulasio was appointed Shadow Minister for Sports while Asinansi Nyakato takes Works and Transport.
Other appointments include Gonzaga Sewungu for Defence and Veteran Affairs, Sheila Amanyo for Information and Anti-Corruption, Karim Masaba for Cooperatives and Microfinance, Ssebina Gyaviira for Finance and Economic Development and Kaluya Andrew Kiiza for Education.
The opposition also appointed Sumayah Nabawanuka for Lands and Housing, Lukanga Moses Musanje for Energy and Minerals, Jamal Mukuve for Water and Environment, Patrick Kuteesa for Agriculture and Kaps Fungaroo for Human Rights.
Luyimbazi Nalukoola was named Shadow Attorney General while Hussein Muyonjo takes Culture and Performing Arts.
Parliamentary Leadership and Committee Positions
- Leader of the Opposition in Parliament – Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi (Nagawa West)
- Chief Opposition Whip – Hon. Paul Mwiru (Jinja South Division East)
- Deputy Chief Opposition Whip – Hon. Harriet Nakwedde (Kayunga DWR)
- Commissioner of Parliament – Hon. Nambeshe John Baptiste (Manjiya County)
- Chairperson, Public Accounts Committee – Hon. Nsamba Patrick Oshabe (Kassanda County North)
- Vice Chairperson, Public Accounts Committee – Hon. Sarah Lwansasula (Jinja City WR)
- Chairperson, COSASE – Hon. Nkuyingi Muwadda (Kyadondo County East)
- Vice Chairperson, COSASE – Hon. George Musisi (Kira Municipality)
- Chairperson, Government Assurances Committee – Hon. Zaake Francis Butebi (Mityana Municipality)
- Vice Chairperson, Government Assurances Committee – Hon. Adeke Anna Ebaju (Soroti DWR)
- Chairperson, Local Government Accounts Committee – Hon. Nambooze Betty Bakireke (Mukono Municipality)
- Vice Chairperson, Local Government Accounts Committee – Hon. Abed Nasser Mudiobole (Iganga Municipality)
- Pan-African Parliament Representative – Hon. Kalwanga David Lukyamuzi (Busujju County)
- Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Representative – Hon. Nantongo Fortunate Rose (Kyotera DWR)
- Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States Representative – Hon. Hassan Kirumira (Katikamu County South)
- Inter-Parliamentary Union Representative – Hon. Nabukenya Brenda (Luwero DWR)
- Parliamentary Pension Scheme – Hon. Kawalya Abubakar (Lubaga North)
- Caribbean-EU Parliamentary Assembly – Hon. Namutaawe Joan (Masaka DWR)
Full Shadow Cabinet
- Harriet Nakwedde – Presidency
- Karim Masaba – Cooperatives and Microfinance
- Sewungu Gonzaga – Defence and Veteran Affairs
- Sheila Amanyo – Information and Anti-Corruption
- Dr. Eunice Apio Otuko – Science, Innovation and Technology
- Kasule Ismail – Trade and Industry
- Okello Patrick Onguti – Local Government
- Ssebina Gyaviira – Finance, Planning and Economic Development
- Tebandeke Charles – Animal Industry and Fisheries
- Alobo Joan Acom – Foreign Affairs
- Sumayah Nabawanuka – Lands, Housing and Urban Development
- Lukanga Moses Musanje – Energy and Minerals
- Kaluya Andrew Kiiza – Education
- Kiiza Hakim – East African Community Affairs
- Jimmy Kanaabi – Public Service
- Dr. Timothy Lusala Batuwa – Health
- Sekabira Denis – Internal Affairs
- Naluyima Betty – Gender, Labour and Social Development
- Robert Maseruka – Youth and Children Affairs
- Fred Jalameso – Tourism and Wildlife
- Jamal Mukuve – Water and Environment
- Kuteesa Patrick – Agriculture
- Okot Peter – Special Regions
- Kaps Fungaroo – Human Rights
- Abdullah Kiwanuka – Justice and Constitutional Affairs
- Zahara Luyirika – Kampala Capital City Authority
- Asinansi Nyakato – Works and Transport
- Zambali Bulasio – Sports
- Hussein Muyonjo – Culture and Performing Arts
- Luyimbazi Nalukoola – Attorney General
The new appointments are expected to shape opposition strategy in Parliament as legislators intensify scrutiny of government programs, expenditure and policy implementation in the coming parliamentary sessions.
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