Opposition Members of Parliament in Uganda, led by Nakawa East MP and Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Joel Ssenyonyi, have walked out from parliament in protest against the controversial Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Amendment Bill 2025 and Political Parties Amendment Bill 2025..
Addressing the media, Ssenyonyi criticized the government for allegedly rushing the bills through parliament without proper consultation.
“When a bill is pushed through without public consultation, it becomes a sham,” he stated. “We tried engaging the Speaker to ensure due process was followed, but after being ignored, we chose to walk out in protest.”
Ssenyonyi announced that the opposition will return to court to challenge the bills, arguing that the legislative process violated legal procedures.
“We will tell the court that both the government and parliament have acted in contempt,” he said.
He emphasized that both bills are critical pieces of legislation that should not be rushed.
Division among opposition MPs
However, the walkout appears to have created divisions within the opposition ranks.
Juliet Kakande, the Masaka City Woman MP from the leading opposition party, the National Unity Platform (NUP), criticized the move, calling it unnecessary political drama.
“We had agreed to stay and participate in the proceedings this time,” she said. “But before even the minority report was presented, we were told to walk out. No, no, no… this is too much. If the thinking is that opposition MPs can’t make an impact in parliament, then perhaps we shouldn’t be here at all.”
Kakande added that she and other MPs are growing frustrated with what she described as “constant drama” within the opposition’s parliamentary strategy.
UPDF (Amendment) Bill, 2025
On May 13, 2025, Parliament received the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which proposes significant reforms to the structure and jurisdiction of military courts, including the controversial inclusion of civilians under military jurisdiction in specific, exceptional circumstances.
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The Bill was introduced for its first reading by the Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Jacob Oboth, and subsequently referred to a joint review by the Committee on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and the Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs. Speaker Anita Among, who presided over the session, directed both committees to conclude their analysis before the end of the fourth parliamentary session, with the Legal Committee designated as the lead reviewer.
According to its explanatory memorandum, the Bill aims to: restructure and reconstitute the courts martial within the UPDF in accordance with Article 129(1)(d) of the Constitution, define the jurisdiction of military courts and establish a clear framework for appeals, and specify the exceptional conditions under which civilians may fall under military jurisdiction and outline the offences applicable in such cases.
To facilitate these changes, the Bill proposes the establishment of two new bodies: the military courts department, responsible for overseeing the administration of military justice, and a disciplinary unit, tasked with ensuring the conduct and discipline of personnel serving in military courts.
Civilian Trials by Military Courts
One of the Bill’s most contentious provisions is the proposal to permit the trial of civilians by military courts. While the draft does not enumerate all applicable offences, it states that civilians may be subject to military jurisdiction if their alleged crimes are committed “in support of or in association with persons subject to military law.”
In addition to judicial reforms, the Bill seeks to align the structure of the UPDF with recent government policies and administrative changes. Notable proposals include: the formal recognition of new service branches such as the Special Forces Command and the Reserve Force, and decentralisation of military pension management from the Ministry of Public Service to the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs.
The Bill also contains several provisions aimed at improving the welfare of UPDF personnel, including: establishment of a dedicated Health Care Service and Medical Board, provision of disability compensation for injured officers, enhanced support for mental health conditions, particularly Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Other proposed changes include: setting qualifications and ensuring the independence of presiding officers in military courts, repealing the Uganda Veterans Assistance Board Act, and placing arms and classified stores exclusively under the jurisdiction of the defence forces.
The accompanying memorandum explains that the amendments are intended to modernize the UPDF Act in line with evolving government policy, recent court rulings, especially the Supreme Court’s decision in Attorney General v. Hon. Michael Kabaziguruka, and ongoing structural reforms within the defence sector.
Political Parties and Organisations (Amendment) Bill, 2025
The Political Parties and Organisations (Amendment) Bill, 2025 was introduced by Faith Nakut, the Woman MP for Napak District. On May 13, she tabled a motion under Rules 127 and 128 of the Rules of Procedure, seeking leave to introduce a Private Member’s Bill to amend the Political Parties and Organizations Act, Cap. 178.
The Bill proposes to formalize two key organs within the National Consultative Forum: the Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD), and a Forum for Non-Represented Political Parties and Organizations.
Its objectives include defining IPOD’s functions and establishing a clearer framework for the allocation of public funding to political parties.
Currently, Section 14 of the Act allows government funding only for political parties represented in Parliament. However, Nakut argues that the law fails to require these parties to uphold democratic values such as tolerance, dialogue, and peaceful co-existence as a condition for receiving public funds.
“To strengthen the National Consultative Forum, we must establish organs that reflect the interests of both represented and non-represented political parties,” she stated.
“Promoting transparency, accountability, and equitable access to public funding requires that parties adhere to democratic principles before receiving public resources,” she said.
According to the Bill, only political parties and organizations that are members of the National Consultative Forum would be eligible for government funding and other public resources.
The Bill also defines the functions of IPOD as follows:
- Promoting inter-party dialogue to enhance democratic governance;
- Facilitating communication among political parties represented in Parliament;
- Advising the government on policy matters and fostering a democratic environment; and
- Providing a neutral platform for engagement among parties with differing ideologies.
Additionally, the Bill proposes that access to public funding and resources be limited to political parties and organizations that choose to join IPOD.
