Opposition Members of Parliament have stormed out of Parliament and refused to participate in the debate on the UPDF Amendment Bill 2025, citing the committee’s failure to allocate sufficient time for public input on the proposed legislation.
They accused the government of fast-tracking two critical Bills—the UPDF Amendment Bill and the Political Parties and Organisations Act (Amendment) Bill—without providing adequate space for public consultations, a move they said undermines the principles of transparency and inclusivity.
However, the opposition’s actions sent mixed signals. Just a day earlier, they had declared their intention to attend the session and put up a spirited fight on the floor.
That anticipated resistance did not materialize as most of them walked out instead, leaving the debate largely to the ruling party and a few remaining members.
Notably, some opposition MPs did stay behind. Among them was Shadow Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Jonathan Odur, who remained in the House and presented a minority report on the Political Parties and Organisations Act (Amendment) Bill. His presence underscored a split in strategy within the opposition ranks.
While addressing Parliament, Leader of the Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi emphasized that the proposed amendments have significant implications for the country’s political future, and warned against passing them without broad stakeholder engagement.
"It’s a sham process," Ssenyonyi added.
Despite the protest, Speaker of Parliament Anita Among, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja and the Chairperson of the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee, defended the timeline.
They insisted that the Bills were processed within the prescribed by the Rules of Procedure and that tabling and passing them in a single day was legally acceptable.
The House continued with its business as scheduled, even as key opposition figures exited the chamber in protest.