The Monitor, 7th Jan. 2003
UPC, DP now illegal - Ayume
By Elizabeth Kameo
The future of political parties in Uganda is uncertain after the time for them to register expired yesterday.�As per the expiry date, they [parties] are operating illegally,� Attorney General Francis Ayume said yesterday.
According to the Political Parties and Organisations Act 2002, political parties had up to yesterday to register or become illegal organisations.
President Yoweri Museveni signed the Act on June 2, 2002, bringing the law into force.
The Seventh Parliament had earlier passed as law the Political Parties and Organisations Bill 2002 on May 9, 2002.
Section 6 of the law says all existing political parties, which include UPC headed by former president Milton Obote, DP headed by Dr. Paul Ssemogerere and CP headed by Mayanja Nkangi will cease to legally exist if they failed to register anew by the set date.
The law also restricts political organisations from opening offices outside Kampala and prohibits them from holding public meetings.
UPC�s James Rwanyayare said he could not comment on his party's stand because the matter is in court.
�That matter is sub-judice,� he said.
Political organisations petitioned the court to nullify the Act is unconstitutional.
DP�s Damiano Lubgea, who described the Act as one aimed at abolishing parties, however, said parties had up to Jan. 17 and not Jan. 6 to be deemed illegal if they had not registered as demanded by the Act.
CP�s Ken Lukyamuzi said there is no need for parties to register again because they were represented in the Constitution Assembly.
�Register for what? Parties were represented in the CA which is proof that they exist,� Lukyamuzi said. Constitutional lawyer Oboth Okumu said the question of whether political organisations are operating illegally will only be answered after the court ruling.
�The court is supposed to make a pronouncement as to whether the Act is constitutional or not, and whether it has the force of a law,� Okumu said.
January 06, 2003 2! 3:13:33< BR>
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