Political Parties Push for Equitable Government Funding to Bolster Democracy

A coalition of political party leaders, operating under the National Consultative Forum (NCF), has called for significant reforms to Uganda’s system of political financing. During a recent two-day meeting in Jinja, attended by party presidents and secretaries general, a central demand emerged: that all registered political parties should receive equitable government funding. This push aims to rectify what participants see as a system that has historically favored parties with parliamentary representation, thereby weakening smaller entities.

The current legal framework, which primarily directs public funds to parties with seats in Parliament, has been criticized for limiting the ability of other parties to build robust structures and engage effectively with the citizenry. The leaders also voiced concerns regarding restrictions on foreign funding under the Sovereignty Act, which they claim hampers the operational sustainability of political organizations.

The NCF meeting, supported by the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD), focused on generating recommendations to strengthen political institutions and promote inclusive governance. Moses Bigirwa, Secretary General of the Common Man’s Party, suggested that the approximately Shs45 billion allocated to parliamentary parties should be redistributed to create a more level playing field for all registered parties.

Aisha Kabanda, Deputy Secretary General of the National Unity Platform (NUP), emphasized the need for continuous resources, stating, “Political mobilisation is not only done during campaign seasons. Parties need resources to operate continuously, engage citizens, and strengthen democratic participation.” This sentiment was echoed by Fred Ebil, Secretary General of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), who expressed openness to legislative changes.

While NCF Chairperson Godfrey Kiwanda, from the NRM, supported the idea of government support for all parties to foster democracy, he suggested the funding might not need to be strictly equal. Conversely, Michael Mabikke, Secretary General of the Democratic Front, argued against blanket funding, proposing that support should be contingent on demonstrated public backing to prevent the formation of “briefcase parties” solely for financial gain.

Electoral Commission spokesperson Julius Mucunguzi advised that any proposed reforms must be channelled through Parliament. The discussions also touched upon strengthening parties beyond election cycles through involvement in government oversight and public expenditure monitoring.

Source: Nile Post