Parliament has approved the Political Parties and Organizations Amendment Bill 2025, sparking heated debate over its implications for political freedom and governance.
The legislation mandates political parties and organisations to engage in the Inter-Party Organization Dialogue (IPOD), institutionalising it as a permanent platform for political dialogue aimed at fostering accountability and non-violent competition.
Among the bill’s notable provisions, government funding to political parties is now tied to their adherence to principles of tolerance, dialogue, and peaceful coexistence.
Stephen Baka Mugabi, Chairperson of the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee, said this requirement is intended to “induce behaviour change and achieve more cohesion” among political actors.
The bill also establishes two new bodies under the National Consultative Forum: the Organ for Political Parties represented in Parliament, serving as IPOD, and a Forum for Non-Represented Political Parties and Political Organisations.
The bill’s passage was marked by intense controversy. Jonathan Odur, MP for Erute South, presented a minority report condemning the bill as “frivolous, vexatious, unjustified, irrational, and diabolical.”
Odur warned that the bill risks plunging the government into conflict and confusion and could negatively affect the consolidated fund.
Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka rejected these concerns, clearing the way for the bill’s approval.
The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) secured the bill’s passage after the opposition MPs staged a walkout, protesting what they described as a flawed legislative process.
This walkout underscored the sharp divisions within Parliament regarding the bill’s merits and consequences.
Supporters argue the amendment will strengthen political dialogue and promote accountability, while critics contend it may restrict political freedoms and stifle dissent.
As Uganda navigates the effects of this legislation, its impact on the country’s democratic processes remains under close scrutiny.