By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
KAMPALA
The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has announced its outright rejection of the proposed Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Amendment Bill, 2025, ahead of its scheduled vote in Parliament on Tuesday, 20 May.
Speaking at the FDC party headquarters in Najjanankumbi on Monday, acting party president Hon. Kaps Fungaroo described the bill as unconstitutional and lacking the necessary public consultation. He criticised the legislative process, claiming it failed to engage key stakeholders, including civil society organisations, academia, and other government institutions.
“FDC considers the UPDF Amendment Bill, 2025 as unconstitutional, and we reject that bill in its totality,” Fungaroo said.
He stressed the absence of public participation in the drafting of the bill, calling it a fundamental violation of legislative principles. “A good legislative process has principles. One of the cardinal principles is public participation. This bill falls short of that,” he said.
Despite the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party’s parliamentary majority, Fungaroo urged MPs to vote based on conscience rather than party loyalty. “This is a situation where Ugandans must judge what is right and wrong,” he added.
The FDC also warned it would pursue legal redress should the bill be passed without inclusive consultation. “If it is passed in that way, even without our participation, we shall go to court and challenge it,” Fungaroo stated.
He further called on opposition parties and other democratic actors to rally against the bill, framing it as a broader defence of constitutionalism and public accountability.
The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Amendment Bill, 2025, was introduced as a legislative response to the Supreme Court’s January 2025 ruling, which declared the trial of civilians in military courts unconstitutional. This decision necessitated revisions to the UPDF Act to align with constitutional mandates and judicial directives.
The bill has sparked widespread controversy, with critics arguing that it seeks to expand the military’s role in civilian affairs and grant the army excessive powers.
On Monday, 30 of 109 opposition MPs unanimously agreed to attend Tuesday’s sitting and oppose the passage of the controversial UPDF Amendment bill. This was during a caucus meeting chaired by the Leader of the Opposition,Joel Ssenyonyi at the LoP’s office.
