Uganda Plans Constitutional Amendments

The Government of Uganda is expected to table a new bill before parliament this month that will introduce several proposed amendments to the constitution.

The Bill was developed on the basis of recommendations made by the Supreme Court that reforms should be made to support the delivery of future free and fair elections.

They were made following a petition challenging the re-election of President Museveni in 2016, with the Supreme Court tasking the Attorney General to implement them.

However, the opposition has accused Government of subjecting the process to various delays in an attempt to put off reform, with the Attorney General failing to meet the two-year deadline for reporting back to the court on the matter.

Electoral Commission Chairman Simon Byabakama has appealed to the government “to ensure timely amendment and or enactment of the relevant electoral laws, including considerations of recommendations [by] the Supreme Court." 

Proposed amendments will also be made to the Electoral Commission Act, the President Elections Act, the Parliamentary Elections Act and the Local Government Elections Act.