There was high drama in Parliament today as Opposition Members of Parliament, led by Leader of the Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi, boycotted plenary in protest over what they described as the “rushed handling” of two critical Bills.
The protest comes as the House debated the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) Amendment Bill and the Political Parties and Organisations (Amendment) Bill, which the opposition claims were being fast-tracked without proper public consultation.
During his presentation before walking out, Ssenyonyi expressed deep concern over the speed at which the two Bills were being processed, saying:
“These Bills carry significant implications for national security and the political space. Rushing them through Parliament without broad stakeholder engagement is unacceptable.”
Ssenyonyi further clashed with Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja during plenary, emphasizing that legislation of this nature should reflect the voices of the people.
Despite the protest, Speaker Anita Among and Legal Committee Chairperson Stephen Baja Mugabi defended the timeline, citing Parliamentary rules of procedure which permit the processing of Bills within 45 days.
“The law allows for these Bills to be introduced, debated, and passed within the same day if necessary,” the Speaker ruled, allowing the House to proceed.