The National Unity Platform (NUP), Uganda’s largest opposition party, faces a major financial setback following the enactment of the Political Parties and Organisations (Amendment) Act, 2025, which was passed by Parliament on Tuesday.

The newly enacted law ties government funding to political parties’ adherence to democratic principles — including tolerance, peaceful co-existence, and active participation in the Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD).

It amends Section 14 of the Political Parties and Organisations Act to restrict funding only to those political parties represented in Parliament and compliant with the new conditions.

The move is widely expected to hit NUP hardest as it has been relying on public funds for mobilisation, party adminstration, recruitment of new members, media campaigns, opening grassroots branches across Uganda and engagement with the diaspora.

The party, which has consistently refused to join IPOD, citing its alignment with the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), currently receives over Shs 3.1 billion annually from the government under the public funding scheme for parties with parliamentary representation.

Under the new law, such funding will be withdrawn from any party that does not comply with the prescribed values and membership requirements — a provision analysts say is directly aimed at NUP, which the government has repeatedly accused of promoting violence and militarism, especially among its youth base.

Already four members of NUP including Eddie Mutwe are facing robbery charges at Masaka High Court while others remain in jail over accusations of violence.

The Bill, tabled by MP Faith Nakut, sailed through Parliament amid fierce resistance from opposition MPs and some independents. Lira Municipality MP Jimmy Akena described the law as “diabolical” and “crafted in bad faith” without adequate stakeholder consultation.

MP Jonathan Odur, in a Minority Report, argued that the law is unconstitutional and designed to punish dissenting voices.

“It seeks to weaponize public funding and punish opposition parties that do not conform to the ruling party’s preferred channels of engagement,” Odur said during the heated plenary session.

Mandatory participation in IPOD

Clause 1 of the law makes it mandatory for political parties to be members of and participate in activities of IPOD as a condition for receiving funds and other public resources.

NUP has long rejected IPOD, accusing it of being a platform for regime consolidation rather than genuine dialogue.

The Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee, in its report, backed the spirit of the law, arguing that conditioning funding will “promote stability, responsible politics, democratic values, and social cohesion.”

The report stated that linking public resources to party conduct would deter extremism and violent rhetoric, and encourage ethical and inclusive political behavior.

Rights advocates, however, warn that the law sets a dangerous precedent and could be used to systematically suppress opposition parties ahead of the 2026 general elections.

“This law essentially says: toe the government’s line or be starved of resources. It is a powerful tool of political control,” said one legal expert familiar with the matter.

With the Act now in force, the Electoral Commission is expected to review funding eligibility for all political parties in Parliament.

For NUP, the clock is ticking — unless it joins IPOD or successfully challenges the law in court, it risks being financially crippled in the run-up to the next elections.

The post Weaponizing the Purse: Uganda’s New Law Puts NUP on the Brink of Financial Collapse appeared first on The Hoima Post –.

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