Uganda’s Parliament is under intense scrutiny after allocating just a few days for Members of Parliament (MPs) to review a sweeping 144-page amendment to the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Act. The Legal and Defence Committees, led by Chairperson Baka Mugabi, have been tasked with proposing changes by Friday—a timeline that has ignited criticism and accusations of undermining democratic scrutiny.
During a tense joint committee session, MPs lashed out at the rushed process. Erute South MP Jonathan Odur called the schedule “shambolic,” warning that it disregards proper legislative review. “Even robots cannot deal with this in three days. We need time to study the Supreme Court ruling guiding these changes,” he said.
Rubabo County MP Naboth Namanya (FDC) echoed the concern, questioning the urgency. “The drafters took months to prepare this bill—why are we being given just minutes to review it?” he asked.
The proposed bill seeks to align the UPDF Act with a recent Supreme Court ruling, particularly regarding military court jurisdiction and civilian oversight of military justice. While the intention is to strengthen legal clarity and oversight, critics argue that rushing the process risks producing legally flawed legislation.
Committee Chair Mugabi defended the timeline, stating, “We can proceed and finish in a day if needed.” However, many MPs insist that meaningful consultation and analysis are essential.
With the Friday deadline looming, tensions remain high as Parliament faces growing pressure to balance urgent legal reforms with demands for transparency and accountability.
