The National Resistance Movement (NRM) Members of Parliament have unanimously endorsed the contentious Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) Amendment Bill, ahead of its scheduled debate on the floor of Parliament today.
The resolution was reached during a caucus meeting held at State House Entebbe on Monday, chaired by President Yoweri Museveni.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Government Chief Whip Denis Hamson Obua confirmed the caucus’s unanimous support for both the UPDF Amendment Bill and a Private Member’s Bill seeking to amend the Political Parties and Organisations Act.
“Our unanimous endorsement aligns with an earlier caucus resolution and fulfills a Supreme Court ruling that necessitated specific legislative adjustments to the UPDF Act,” Obua said.
The UPDF Amendment Bill proposes key changes to the existing Act, including:
- Streamlining the composition and structures of the defence forces;
- Providing definitions for terms such as service offence, court martial, military court, and reserve force;
- Restructuring and reestablishing courts martial in accordance with the Constitution.
However, the Bill has drawn criticism from opposition MPs, who argue that it aims to legitimize the trial of civilians in military courts—an issue they vow to resist.
In a related development, the caucus also expressed support for a Private Member’s Bill introduced by Napak Woman MP, Faith Nakut, which seeks to amend the Political Parties and Organisations Act.
The proposed amendment would require all political parties to be members of the Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD) as a condition for accessing government funding.
Currently, Section 14 of the Act allows funding for all political parties represented in Parliament, without requiring a demonstrated commitment to democratic values such as tolerance, dialogue, and peaceful co-existence.
Nakut argues the amendment would strengthen political accountability and promote a culture of constructive engagement among Uganda’s political actors.
