FDC Vows to Challenge UPDF Amendment Bill in Court Over Human Rights Concerns

The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has vowed to drag the government to court if Parliament passes the proposed UPDF Amendment Bill 2025 in its current form, citing serious violations of human rights.

Addressing journalists at the party headquarters in Najjanankumbi, FDC’s acting president, Hassan Kaps Fungaroo, said the bill contains oppressive provisions that aim to suppress the freedoms of ordinary Ugandans. He accused the government of disregarding past rulings by the Supreme Court and using the law as a tool to curtail civil liberties.

“This bill is not about improving the operations of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces. It is about silencing the people and stripping them of their rights. We cannot allow that,” said Fungaroo.

The FDC leadership has instructed its Members of Parliament to vigorously oppose the bill on the floor of Parliament and to rally support from fellow opposition legislators, as well as sympathetic members of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).

The party also criticised the rushed nature of the bill’s presentation, noting that key stakeholders, including civil society, academia, and ordinary citizens, have not been given an opportunity to weigh in on the proposed changes.

“The speed at which this bill is being processed is suspicious. It is undemocratic to pass such a critical law without inclusive consultations,” said Fungaroo.

Opposition MPs have expressed strong reservations about the bill, claiming a number of its clauses are unconstitutional and infringe on basic freedoms. They accuse the government of seeking to use the UPDF law as a weapon to intimidate the population and stifle dissent.