🟥 LIVE: Parliament decides on UPDF Amendment Bill, 2025

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT, URN & PARLIAMENT MEDIA | Parliament sits today for the second reading of The Political Parties and Organisations (Amendment) Bill, 2025; and The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (Amendment) Bill, 2025. HERE BELOW are LIVE UPDATES

🟧 Leader of the Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi has led a walkout from parliament of the Opposition MPs

Opposition Members of Parliament have walked out of a plenary session, arguing they could not participate in what they described as a sham process. Led by the Leader of the Opposition, Ssenyonyi, the MPs questioned the government’s rush to amend the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Act — a proposal that, among other provisions, allows for the trial of civilians in military courts.

The opposition also raised concerns over the amendment to the Political Parties and Organisations Act, which seeks to condition government funding to political parties on their participation in the Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD). They criticized how the bill was being processed. Both bills were read for the first time in Parliament last week and referred to the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee for further scrutiny.

In the case of the UPDF Act, the Defence and Internal Affairs Committee was also involved. Addressing Parliament before staging the walkout, Ssenyonyi said: “I was very hard-pressed together with my colleagues for us to sit here and participate in a sham process… When you bring a bill here, you should give it time for people to have their input, but for you, you are saying, you don’t want our input, we are going to pass the bill as is. That’s why you Madam Speaker, you didn’t rein in the committee to give adequate time to the stakeholders. That means this is pretentious, this is a sham. So, together with my friends, we are hard-pressed to participate in this sham process, so we shall leave you here to process your bill.”

🟧 A report of the Committee on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, and that of Defence and Internal Affairs, on The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (Amendment) Bill, 2025 gives the bill the nod.

🟧 WILSON KAJWENGYE: The Committee examined this matter and concludes that the trial of civilians by military courts should occur only in exceptional circumstances, ensuring that a fair trial is guaranteed

WATCH🎥: Opposition MPs have walked out of Parliament and declined to take part in the debate on the UPDF Amendment Bill 2025, protesting the committee’s failure to provide sufficient time for public input on the proposed legislation.

Details to follow shortly! #UBCUpdates pic.twitter.com/XOfYBK6wsY

— UBC UGANDA (@ubctvuganda) May 20, 2025

This was probably the best course of action.

Everything related to this Bill is an insult to the letter and spirit of the 1995 Constitution with regard to both process (public participation) and substance (civil-military relations, human rights and judicial independence). https://t.co/tWuSD1aJvG

— Dr Busingye Kabumba (@bkabumba) May 20, 2025

LIVE: The UPDF Amendment is not aimed at civilians, but at strengthening order, discipline, and national security ~Defence Minisiter Hon. @ObothOboth defends the UPDF Amendment Bill.#UBCUpdates pic.twitter.com/sghaDiJvUG

— UBC UGANDA (@ubctvuganda) May 20, 2025

“The Committee examined this matter and concludes that the trial of civilians by military courts should occur only in exceptional
circumstances, ensuring that a fair trial is guaranteed” – @WKajwengye #PlenaryUg pic.twitter.com/K8ki4dtlYY

— Parliament of Uganda (@Parliament_Ug) May 20, 2025

MP Okot says the General Court Martial has to be subordinate to the High Court, and that granting the GCM powers to try capital offences would be unconstitutional. #PlenaryUg pic.twitter.com/ksSbjnCGWC

— Parliament of Uganda (@Parliament_Ug) May 20, 2025

MP Okot says the military courts martial cannot be impartial and independent, thereby making them unconstitutional and offensive against the principles of fair hearing and natural justice. #PlenaryUg pic.twitter.com/XC4GryCRWj

— Parliament of Uganda (@Parliament_Ug) May 20, 2025

A section of MPs opposed the presentation of a Minority Report by Hon @JonaOdur , but Speaker @AnitahAmong says all sides must be heard. #PlenaryUg pic.twitter.com/Ij32aXlvdO

— Parliament of Uganda (@Parliament_Ug) May 20, 2025

Attorney General @KiryowaKk is responding to issues raised by Hon @JonaOdur in his Minority Report on The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (Amendment) Bill, 2025. #PlenaryUg pic.twitter.com/3z4nQ7srCg

— Parliament of Uganda (@Parliament_Ug) May 20, 2025

MP @JonaOdur wants the names of historical figures removed from The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (Amendment) Bill, 2025. He says the country has since “moved on from the 1986 scenario”. The question was put to vote and he lost. #PlenaryUg pic.twitter.com/71y3QbTzsB

— Parliament of Uganda (@Parliament_Ug) May 20, 2025

MP Nsereko says on Clause 38, it should be rejected as it will have the effect of granting the General Court Martial an equal status with the High Court, which he says is unconstitutional. The question was put and he lost. #PlenaryUg pic.twitter.com/2qiHCJZ2r0

— Parliament of Uganda (@Parliament_Ug) May 20, 2025