Political Parties Are Back
AROUND 45 political parties and organisations have collected registration forms from the Registrar-General.
AROUND 45 political parties and organisations have collected registration forms from the Registrar-General.
The registration form must be accompanied by the slogan, identifying colours and symbols of the new party plus 100 signatures of voters in two-thirds of the districts of Uganda.
Registration should then be straightforward unless there is a compelling reason for disqualification (if, for instance, it preaches ethnic hatred).
In April 2003, the Attorney-General Francis Ayume declared that political parties were free to operate following the March ruling of the Constitutional Court that key sections of the Political Parties and Organisations Act were null and void.
In effec, multi-party politics then returned to Uganda. If the Attorney-General does not pursue an appeal to the Supreme Court, multi-party politics are here to stay.
Many politicians still have not fully recognised the momentous consequences of Ayume’s statement.
A political party can now field official candidates at elections; have regional and local offices; hold rallies; and use symbols and other party paraphernalia.
It is good news that 45 parties or organisations have collected the registration forms although only two have returned the completed forms (one presumably being the Movement organisation).
The UPC and DP have already made it clear that they do not intend to register. This is ridiculous. If radio stations, newspapers, NGOs, companies and any business in Uganda have to register, why should not political parties register? It would be anarchy to do otherwise.
Anyone who wants to launch a party should not miss the boat. Multi-party politics have returned to Uganda. It is time to register and compete for political office.
Ends
The registration form must be accompanied by the slogan, identifying colours and symbols of the new party plus 100 signatures of voters in two-thirds of the districts of Uganda.
Registration should then be straightforward unless there is a compelling reason for disqualification (if, for instance, it preaches ethnic hatred).
In April 2003, the Attorney-General Francis Ayume declared that political parties were free to operate following the March ruling of the Constitutional Court that key sections of the Political Parties and Organisations Act were null and void.
In effec, multi-party politics then returned to Uganda. If the Attorney-General does not pursue an appeal to the Supreme Court, multi-party politics are here to stay.
Many politicians still have not fully recognised the momentous consequences of Ayume’s statement.
A political party can now field official candidates at elections; have regional and local offices; hold rallies; and use symbols and other party paraphernalia.
It is good news that 45 parties or organisations have collected the registration forms although only two have returned the completed forms (one presumably being the Movement organisation).
The UPC and DP have already made it clear that they do not intend to register. This is ridiculous. If radio stations, newspapers, NGOs, companies and any business in Uganda have to register, why should not political parties register? It would be anarchy to do otherwise.
Anyone who wants to launch a party should not miss the boat. Multi-party politics have returned to Uganda. It is time to register and compete for political office.
Ends