Mukono Municipality Member of Parliament, Betty Nambooze, has urged Uganda’s leading political parties to clearly differentiate between members and those who aren’t as the country heads towards the 2026 General Presidential and Parliamentary elections.
Nambooze warned that failure to do so creates confusion in party structures and weakens internal democracy.
Speaking during NBS Barometer on Tuesday, Nambooze noted that many political organisations across the continent wrongly classify everyone who shows affinity to a party as a member, even when they have never formally enrolled.
“In Africa, many political parties are yet to distinguish between members, sympathisers, supporters and voters within the party,” she said.
“As leaders, you choose to identify them all as members, yet practically they aren’t.”
Nambooze further stressed that while sympathisers and supporters may contribute to a party’s visibility and electoral success, membership should be based on formal registration and commitment to party principles, similar to a company or any other formal organisation.
