KAMPALA, Uganda — Uganda’s parliamentary opposition is vowing to directly confront the controversial Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) Amendment Bill in Parliament today, rejecting calls for a boycott of the plenary session.
The Leader of the Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi, announced yesterday that opposition lawmakers would be present when the bill comes up for its second and third readings. Despite receiving public appeals to abstain from the vote, Ssenyonyi stated that opposition Members of Parliament would “not abscond.” Instead, they plan to use every available platform to voice their strong opposition to what they describe as “unjust legislation” being pushed by the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM). Ssenyonyi also urged all Ugandans to speak out against perceived injustices.
This decision to actively confront the bill came as NRM Members of Parliament were simultaneously holding a caucus meeting yesterday at State House Entebbe, chaired by President Yoweri Museveni.
The UPDF Amendment Bill, if passed, would controversially allow civilians to be tried in military court-martials. This provision has already ignited widespread debate and significant concern from human rights advocates across the nation. The bill’s stated aim is to streamline the composition of defense forces, define service offenses, and restructure military courts.
