AG asks court to dismiss NUP’s case

The Attorney General has asked the High Court to dismiss an application by the National Unity Platform challenging its exclusion from the statutory political party funding, arguing that the case has been overtaken by events since the funds have already been disbursed. An affidavit sworn on behalf of the Attorney General, Lawrence Sserwambala, the Executive Director of the Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue, states that the government’s actions were lawful and in line with the amended Political Parties and Organisations Act. Sserwambala has told court that the Electoral Commission, acting within its mandate, had already released the first-quarter disbursements for the 2025/2026 financial year to all political parties that are members of IPOD. Sserwambala produced payment vouchers showing that on September 30th, 2025, the Electoral Commission disbursed funds to six parties — the National Resistance Movement, Forum for Democratic Change, Uganda People’s Congress, Democratic Party, Justice Forum, and the People’s Progressive Party. According to the vouchers, NRM received Shs8.5 billion, FDC received Shs756 million, UPC Shs277 million, DP Shs227 million, while JEEMA and PPP each received Shs25 million respectively, leaving a balance of 1.1 billion shillings out of the 11 billion shillings. The Attorney General’s office maintains that the disbursement was grounded in law, following amendments that restricted funding to political parties belonging to IPOD, for which NUP is not. However, we have learnt that NUP has already expressed interest in signing the Memorandum of Understanding with IPOD in order to access the funding. Sserwambala has also provided a response to NUP, maintaining that certain conditions, among which includes expressing readiness to participate in IPOD dialogue, must be fulfilled. Also, presiding judge Collins Acellam has advised the two parties to dialogue instead of fighting each other because there is a reason as to why there is 1.1 billion shillings left untouched. NUP, through its Secretary General, David Lewis Rubongoya, petitioned the court challenging a directive by the Justice Minister Norbert Mao, which instructed the Electoral Commission to fund only IPOD member parties. NUP contends that the directive was illegal and discriminatory, noting it has previously received funding as the second-largest party in Parliament and a member of the National Consultative Forum.