By Andante Okanya
THE High Court in Kampala has endorsed the Electoral Commissions (EC) bid to de-register 10 inactive political parties for non-compliance with the law.
In a ruling delivered yesterday by the head of the courts civil division Justice Stephen Musota, he stated that the non-compliance was a breach of public trust.
The record on the EC website shows that there are 38 political parties. However, the ruling implies that there are only 28 certified political parties in the country what have fulfilled all requirements.
The judge faulted the parties for flouting Section 9 of the Political Parties and Organisations Act, 2005(as amended).
He said the purpose of written declarations is to provide information that is useful to all stakeholders in the countrys democratisation process.
These legal requirements must be taken seriously. They are not a mere formality. It is common knowledge that political parties influence the political process, Musota said.
Adding: Therefore, they must be law abiding. Competing for political power requires a party to respect the rule of law.
The 10 blacklisted parties are Progressive Alliance Party (PAP); registered April 13, 2005), Bridge Party (BP); registered October 13, 2005), National Redemption Party (NRP); registered December 14, 2005, and Action Party (AP); registered December 15, 2004.
Others are Uganda Mandate Party (UMP); registered March 22, 2005, and New Order Democracy (NOM; registered October 15, 2005), and People's Independent Party (PIP); registered April 7, 2004.
Also included are, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC); registered July 28, 2004, Movement Volunteers Mobilisers Organisation (MVMO); registered March 22, 2005, and Reform Party (RP); registered March 22, 2005.
The case arose last year on July 16, when the EC petitioned court, seeking permission to de-register the parties over alleged inactivity. The electoral body asserted that the parties had not updated their profiles in the commission's records.
The EC contended that the 10 political parties had not submitted to the commission a written declaration stating their source of funding and other assets, as required by law.
Of all the blacklisted parties, it was only the MVMO, RP, and MDC that responded to the court summons.
The rest stayed away from all court proceedings, and the judge stated that their silence was an indication that they did not oppose ECs move to have them de-registered.
For the three that responded, the judge stated that the affidavits of their leaders did not contain annexures to back their claims of compliance.
Party presidents Apollo Nyabongo (MVMO), and Johnson Mutiibwa (MDC) were present in court. The EC was represented by its head of legal Eric Sabiiti, while Fred Masaba appeared for the Attorney General.
THE High Court in Kampala has endorsed the Electoral Commissions (EC) bid to de-register 10 inactive political parties for non-compliance with the law.
In a ruling delivered yesterday by the head of the courts civil division Justice Stephen Musota, he stated that the non-compliance was a breach of public trust.
The record on the EC website shows that there are 38 political parties. However, the ruling implies that there are only 28 certified political parties in the country what have fulfilled all requirements.
The judge faulted the parties for flouting Section 9 of the Political Parties and Organisations Act, 2005(as amended).
He said the purpose of written declarations is to provide information that is useful to all stakeholders in the countrys democratisation process.
These legal requirements must be taken seriously. They are not a mere formality. It is common knowledge that political parties influence the political process, Musota said.
Adding: Therefore, they must be law abiding. Competing for political power requires a party to respect the rule of law.
The 10 blacklisted parties are Progressive Alliance Party (PAP); registered April 13, 2005), Bridge Party (BP); registered October 13, 2005), National Redemption Party (NRP); registered December 14, 2005, and Action Party (AP); registered December 15, 2004.
Others are Uganda Mandate Party (UMP); registered March 22, 2005, and New Order Democracy (NOM; registered October 15, 2005), and People's Independent Party (PIP); registered April 7, 2004.
Also included are, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC); registered July 28, 2004, Movement Volunteers Mobilisers Organisation (MVMO); registered March 22, 2005, and Reform Party (RP); registered March 22, 2005.
The case arose last year on July 16, when the EC petitioned court, seeking permission to de-register the parties over alleged inactivity. The electoral body asserted that the parties had not updated their profiles in the commission's records.
The EC contended that the 10 political parties had not submitted to the commission a written declaration stating their source of funding and other assets, as required by law.
Of all the blacklisted parties, it was only the MVMO, RP, and MDC that responded to the court summons.
The rest stayed away from all court proceedings, and the judge stated that their silence was an indication that they did not oppose ECs move to have them de-registered.
For the three that responded, the judge stated that the affidavits of their leaders did not contain annexures to back their claims of compliance.
Party presidents Apollo Nyabongo (MVMO), and Johnson Mutiibwa (MDC) were present in court. The EC was represented by its head of legal Eric Sabiiti, while Fred Masaba appeared for the Attorney General.
