“NUP Challenges New Political Party Funding Law in Court”
Kampala, Uganda The National Unity Platform (NUP), Uganda’s largest opposition party, has initiated legal proceedings against the Electoral Commission (EC) over the recent amendments to the Political Parties and Organisations Act, 2025. The party argues that the new law, which mandates all parliamentary parties to join the Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD) to access government funding, is unconstitutional and disenfranchises parties not represented in Parliament.
NUP’s Secretary General, David Lewis Rubongoya, stated, “The law unfairly excludes parties like ours, which have significant support but lack parliamentary representation.” The party has petitioned the High Court to declare the amendments null and void.
The amended law, passed in May 2025, conditions government funding for political parties on their commitment to democratic principles and mandatory participation in IPOD. The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) and other parliamentary parties support the amendments, arguing they promote political dialogue and stability.
However, critics contend that the law consolidates power among established parties and marginalizes smaller or emerging political groups. The outcome of the court case is eagerly awaited, as it could have significant implications for Uganda’s political landscape ahead of the 2026 general elections.
