This law has caused a lot of disagreement and strong protests from opposition parties and civil society groups.
The new law says that all political parties registered in Uganda must join the Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue, known as IPOD.
The ruling party, National Resistance Movement (NRM), supported this bill and most of its members voted in favor. But many opposition parties strongly opposed the bill.
One of the main opposition parties, the National Unity Platform (NUP), has refused to join IPOD before.
They say IPOD is controlled by the ruling party and does not allow other parties to have a fair say. With this new law, all political parties must join IPOD or risk losing their registration and be banned from taking part in elections.
Joel Ssenyonyi, the Leader of Opposition in Parliament, said, “This bill is a political trap.” He and several other opposition members protested by walking out of the Parliament chamber.
They believe the government is trying to use the law to control political parties and stop opposition voices.
Supporters of the bill say it will help political parties work together and talk more openly. They believe that joining IPOD will bring peace and maturity to Uganda’s politics.
According to them, having all parties in one group will make politics more stable in the country.The law also introduces new rules about money for political parties. All parties must now say where they get their money from.
They must report their donations clearly and allow audits to check their finances. This is meant to stop corruption and make sure parties use money in the right way.
Civil society organizations have spoken out against the bill. They say the law is unfair and goes against the country’s constitution.
They have promised to take the matter to court to try and stop the law from being put into effect.As the bill waits for the President to sign it, many people in Uganda are worried about what will happen next.
There are plans for protests in several big towns across the country as citizens show their unhappiness with the law.The passing of this law is seen as a major moment in Uganda’s political scene.
It is likely to increase tension between the ruling party and the opposition in the coming months. Many fear the law could limit political freedom and reduce the space for different opinions in the country.
The new law shows how Uganda’s politics continue to be divided. The government wants to control political parties through IPOD, while the opposition wants freedom to operate independently.
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