Uganda Parliament Reviews New Bill on Political Party Funding

Kampala: Parliament has begun scrutinizing the Political Parties and Organizations (Amendment) Bill, 2025, following its introduction by Napak District Woman MP Hon. Faith Nakut during a plenary sitting chaired by Speaker Anita Among on Wednesday, 14 May 2025. The Bill seeks to amend the Political Parties and Organizations Act, Cap. 178, to regulate the funding of political parties and organizations more strictly.According to African Press Organization, Hon. Nakut moved a motion on Tuesday, 13 May 2025, under Rules 127 and 128 of the Rules of Procedure to gain permission for introducing this Private Members Bill. The proposed legislation aims to formalize two organs within the National Consultative Forum: the Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD) and a Forum for Non-Represented Political Parties and Organizations. It also seeks to define the functions of IPOD and establish criteria for public funding of political parties and organizations.The Bill's objective is to restrict government funding and a ccess to other public resources solely to political parties and organizations that are members of the National Consultative Forum. The prescribed functions of IPOD include promoting inter-party dialogue to strengthen democratic governance, facilitating communication among political parties represented in Parliament, advising the government on policy matters, fostering a democratic environment, and providing a neutral platform for engagement among parties with differing ideologies.The Bill proposes that only political parties and organizations that choose to join IPOD be eligible for government funding and public resources. The Speaker, Anita Among, has referred the Bill to the Committee on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs for further scrutiny.