The government has proposed a code of conduct to regulate operations of political parties ahead of the 2021 general elections.
Last Thursday, the Attorney General William Byaruhanga tabled before Parliament five Bills in which government proposed a series of reforms in the laws governing elections in the country.
The Bills tabled by the Attorney General are the Presidential Elections Amendment Bill 2019, the Parliamentary Elections Amendment Bill, 2019, the Electoral Commission Amendment Bill, 2019, Political Parties and Organisations Amendment Bill, 2019, and the Local Government Amendment Bill, 2019.
The proposed electoral reforms have already been submitted to the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee for processing.
Government has moved two amendments in the Political Parties and Organisations Act 2005 with a proposal to amend Section 19 by substituting it with the Code of Conduct for Political Parties and Organisations.
The second proposal is to insert a Fourth Schedule after the Third Schedule of the Principal Act.
In the code of conduct, government has listed at least eight requirements for political parties and organisations on how to comply with the code, observe the rule of law, prevent abuse of position of power, intimidation and violence and influence peddling.
Other parts include the language to be used; how the parties would relate with the Electoral Commission, the media and Uganda Police Force, conduct during campaigns and polling process, how to handle outcome of elections and the role of election monitors and observers.
With the proposed code of conduct if the amendment is passed, the government wants political parties to cooperate with police in conducting the arrest of their members found to have violated the electoral laws.
In the Bill, government states in code number 12(1): A political party or organisation shall assist the police in apprehending its members who attempt to or violate the provisions of any law relating to elections and political activities.”
The same provision under 12(2) states that every political party shall recognize the constitutional functions of the police, cooperate with the police in exercise of its functions, give effect to any lawful orders of the police, and allow police officers access to public meetings, marches, demonstrations and rallies.
Concerning the conduct of political parties during campaigns, government has moved five proposals which include respecting the rights and freedoms of all other political parties or candidates, respecting the freedom of the press, no disruption of campaign efforts of another party or candidate, no imitation of symbols of other parties, not holding rallies close to one another in the same time, and not exercising undue influence for the release of party members arrested for alleged violation of electoral laws.