Africa-Press – Uganda. The High Court has scheduled October 29, 2025, to deliver a ruling in a case filed by the National Unity Platform (NUP) challenging its exclusion from the latest distribution of political party funding.
NUP accuses the Electoral Commission (EC) and the Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD) of illegally disbursing billions of shillings to other political parties while sidelining the country’s largest opposition party.
The case was heard in the Civil Division of the High Court, where lawyers representing the Attorney General, the Electoral Commission, and NUP presented further submissions.
Senior State Attorney Johnson Natuhwera represented the Attorney General, Hamid Lugoloobi appeared for the EC, and Elias Luyimbazi Nalukoola, Jonathan Elotu, and Kakuru Tumusiime led NUP’s legal team.
Among those in attendance were NUP Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya, Treasurer Benjamin Katana, and IPOD Executive Director Dr. Lawrence Sserwambala.
NUP’s legal team argued that, despite a pending injunction against the disbursement, the government had already released Shs9.8 billion to several political parties, excluding NUP.
They said Shs11 billion had been earmarked for all political parties, yet Shs1.1 billion meant for NUP had not been disbursed.
Lead counsel Elias Luyimbazi Nalukoola asked the court to issue an interim order preventing the EC from releasing the remaining funds until the case is determined.
“Our humble prayer is that the Electoral Commission is restrained from distributing the balance until the main application is resolved,” he said.
The government, through Senior State Attorney Natuhwera, rejected claims that NUP was deliberately excluded, insisting that the disbursed funds were intended only for IPOD member parties.
“It is a misrepresentation that the Minister excluded NUP. The letter only mentioned members of IPOD, of which NUP is not part,” he said.
Nalukoola countered that the amendment linking funding to IPOD membership is not yet in force, as no statutory instrument has been issued by the Minister of Justice.
“The new law that ties funding to IPOD membership is not operational. NUP’s entitlement should therefore not be affected,” he said.
IPOD Executive Director Dr. Lawrence Sserwambala confirmed in court that NUP is not currently a member and is therefore ineligible for funds under the existing framework.
“NUP has never been an IPOD member. Until they fulfil all membership requirements, they will not benefit from IPOD allocations,” he said, adding that IPOD had responded to NUP’s formal application to join the body.
Documents presented in court show the breakdown of the Shs 11 billion allocated for political party financing: NRM received Shs8.5 billion, UPC got Shs277 million, FDC received Shs750 million, DP got Shs227 million, and PPP received Shs25 million.
The remaining Shs1.1 billion, initially earmarked for NUP, remains in the EC account and could be returned to the Consolidated Fund if the party does not qualify for disbursement by the end of the quarter.
After hearing submissions from all sides, Justice Accelam Collins reserved judgment until October 29, noting he would be on leave until October 24.
NUP maintains that its petition is not only about the withheld funds but also challenges the “illegal conduct” of the EC and IPOD in managing party financing.
“We are not only after our share of the funds; we are challenging the illegality and unfairness in the entire process,” Nalukoola said after the session.
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