Parliament Passes Bill to Deny Funding to Political Parties That Shun Dialogue
On Tuesday, May 20, 2025, Parliament passed a Private Member’s Bill formally recognizing the Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD) as the official platform for multi-party dialogue in Uganda. The bill, moved by Napak Woman MP Faith Nakut Loru, introduces key amendments to the law governing political parties.
Key provisions:
-
IPOD will be the official organ of the National Consultative Forum (NCF) for parties with parliamentary representation.
-
Two new structures—the IPOD Summit and the IPOD Council—will be established to steer dialogue. Their composition and functions will be defined by a statutory instrument.
-
Non-represented parties, such as the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT), will engage through the Forum for Non-Represented Political Parties and Organisations.
The bill was passed with minimal resistance as most opposition MPs, led by Leader of Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi, had stormed out of Parliament earlier in protest against what they called a pre-determined legislative process, especially regarding the UPDF and Political Parties Amendment Bills.
IPOD Uganda is currently facilitated by the National Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD) and is intended to promote consensus-building and political dialogue.
