Napak Woman Member of Parliament Faith Nakut has tabled the Political Parties and Organizations Amendment Bill 2025 for its first reading in Parliament.
The proposed legislation aims to compel political parties to participate in the National Consultative Forum and Inter-Party Organization Dialogue (IPOD), emphasising dialogue, accountability, and tolerance.
The bill seeks to restrict funding to political parties that fail to participate in the activities of both the National Consultative Forum and IPOD.
According to the bill's provisions, political parties would be required to demonstrate their commitment to accountability and transparency in order to receive funding.
However, the bill has generated significant debate in the House, with Opposition MPs expressing concerns that it was brought in bad faith. "The Nakut bill has a bad motive," some MPs argued. Others believe that the bill, if passed into law, would stifle the growth of multi-party democracy in the country. "The Nakut bill may stifle multi-party democracy," they cautioned.
On the other hand, some NRM MPs believe that the bill would promote accountability among political parties. "Political parties must provide accountability not only to their members but also to all Ugandans since they are beneficiaries of taxpayers' money," they argued.
The bill has been referred to the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee for scrutiny.
The committee will review the bill's provisions and gather input from stakeholders before reporting back to Parliament.
The proposed bill has sparked a heated debate in Parliament, highlighting the complexities of regulating political parties in Uganda.
As the bill progresses through the legislative process, its implications for the country's democratic landscape will likely be closely watched.