The government has withdrawn the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (Amendment) Bill, 2024, from parliament. The Government Chief Whip, Dennis Hamson Obua withdrew the bill under Rule 140 of the Parliament Rules of Procedure, concerning the withdrawal of Bills.
The Rule provides that: “(1) A member in charge of a Bill may, at any time, give notice that he or she wishes to withdraw the Bill, subject to the approval of the House. (2) Whenever the House grants its approval for withdrawal save that the same Bill may be re-introduced after re-publishing it in the Gazette. (3) Should the House withhold its approval, the Bill shall proceed in the House under the guidance of the Chairperson of the relevant Committee.”
While justifying the withdrawal of the Bill, Obua said that they needed to enrich it and ensure that the government complies with the ruling of the Supreme Court. His proposal was seconded by a section of Members of Parliament, who approved the withdrawal.
“Honorable Members, you heard what was in the Supreme Court ruling…the issue was who heads the Court Martial? How are they appointed? Who is a civilian? Who is a military person? And are you allowed to appeal a decision that has been made by a Court Martial? And those are things that I think Hon. Government Chief Whip…and we need to comply with what the court ruled,” said the Speaker of Parliament, Annet Anita Among.
The Bill withdrawal follows a decision made by the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Parliamentary Caucus early this month at State House, Entebbe, following an address by the ruling party chairman, President Yoweri Museveni. The decision came after a Supreme Court ruling regarding the set-up of the Court Martials.
According to the statement issued by the Government’s Chief Whip then, the NRM caucus resolved that the Attorney General be given time to draft new proposals into the UPDF Amendment Bill under the Supreme Court ruling, and an extraordinary meeting be convened to discuss the proposals of the Bill.
The Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (Amendment) Bill, 2024, was formally introduced on the floor of parliament through a First Reading on December 19, 2024, by the Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Jacob Oboth Oboth. It was thereafter referred to the Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs for consideration.
The object of the Bill is to amend the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces Act, Cap. 330, to streamline the composition of the organs and structures of the Defence Forces; to establish a Health Care Service for the members of the Defence Forces; to establish the Medical Board; to provide for the management of veteran affairs; to repeal the Uganda Veterans Assistance Board Act, Cap. 221; and for other related matters.
The Uganda Peoples Defence Forces Act, Cap. 330, was enacted in 2005. Since then, the defence sector has transformed both operationally and administratively. Therefore, the Bill aimed to amend the Act to address existing gaps and consider new government policies.
In January, the Supreme Court chaired by Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo delivered a judgement nullifying, with immediate effect, the prosecution of all civilians in the General Court Martial and military courts. The Court declared the act unconstitutional.