Speaker Among says foreign political party safe under new law
“All those with acts of parliament, we have the Political Parties and Organisations Act. All these are entitled, including FDC. So, you are not excluded, you can receive your money from wherever because you have an Act of Parliament that supports you,” she stated.
Speaker Anita Annet Among speaking during plenary on Tuesday, May 05. (Photo by Miriam Namutebi)
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Speaker Anita Annet Among on Tuesday allayed fears that funding for political parties would be constrained following the passage of the Protection of Sovereignty Bill, 2026.
She echoed this during the debate on the bill on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, after Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Treasurer General and Tororo North MP Geoffrey Ekanya raised concerns over the potential impact of the proposed law on party financing.
“All those with acts of parliament, we have the Political Parties and Organisations Act. All these are entitled, including FDC. So, you are not excluded, you can receive your money from wherever because you have an Act of Parliament that supports you,” she stated.
Earlier on, Ekanya had warned political parties, including the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), of tough days ahead once the bill is assented to.
Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Treasurer General Geoffrey Ekanya has warned political parties of tough days ahead following the passage of the Protection of Sovereignty Bill, 2026.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, the Tororo North Member of Parliament (MP) said foreign funding for many, including the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), would be constrained.
“The purpose of this bill is to deny political parties and civil society from receiving resources that are not declared. We have the NRM; they have been receiving funding from partner parties, like in China. Now with this, they are putting a rope on their neck,” Ekanya observed.
NRM partnerships
For context, NRM, which is led by President Yoweri Museveni, has, over time, inked partnerships with political parties across the globe.
These include the Communist Party of China (CPC), which was founded by Mao Zedong, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) of reigning Kenyan President William Ruto, Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) of Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit, United Russia Party and the United Socialist Party of Venezuela.
On February 12, 2024, it should be noted that NRM initiated steps to formalise cooperation with the United Socialist Party of Venezuela at a meeting between the United Socialist Party of Venezuela and the NRM secretariat on Kyadondo Road.