Article 69-76 Uganda Constitution 1995
Article 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, and 76 of the Uganda Constitution 1995 is under ‘Political systems’ and ‘General’ of Chapter 5 of the Constitution. Chapter 5 is titled ‘Representation of The People‘.
Article 69 Uganda Constitution 1995
Political systems
(1) The people of Uganda shall have the right to choose and adopt a political system of their choice through free and fair elections or referenda.
(2) The political systems referred to in clause (1) of this article shall
include—
(a) the movement political system;
(b) the multiparty political system; and
(c) any other democratic and representative political system.
Article 70 Uganda Constitution 1995
Movement political system
(1) The movement political system is broad-based, inclusive and nonpartisan and shall conform to the following principles—
(a) participatory democracy;
(b) democracy, accountability and transparency;
(c) accessibility to all positions of leadership by all citizens;
(d) individual merit as a basis for election to political offices.
(2) Parliament may—
(a) create organs under the movement political system and define their roles; and
(b) prescribe from time to time any other democratic principle of the movement political system, as it may consider necessary.
Article 71 Uganda Constitution 1995
Multiparty political system
(1) A political party in the multiparty political system shall conform to the
following principles—
(a) every political party shall have a national character;
(b) membership of a political party shall not be based on sex, ethnicity, religion or other sectional division;
(c) the internal organisation of a political party shall conform to the democratic principles enshrined in this Constitution;
(d) members of the national organs of a political party shall be regularly elected from citizens of Uganda in conformity with the provisions of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this article and with due consideration for gender;
(e) political parties shall be required by law to account for the
sources and use of their funds and assets;
(f) no person shall be compelled to join a particular party by virtue
of belonging to an organisation or interest group.
(2) Parliament shall by law prescribe a code of conduct for political organisations and political parties and provide for the establishment of a national consultative forum for political parties and organisations with such functions as Parliament may prescribe.
Article 72 Uganda Constitution 1995
Right to form political parties or political organisations
(1) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the right to form political parties and any other political organisations is guaranteed.
(2) An organisation shall not operate as a political party or organisation unless it conforms to the principles laid down in this Constitution and it is registered.
(3) Parliament shall by law regulate the financing and functioning of political organisations.
(4) Any person is free to stand for an election as a candidate, independent of a political organisation or political party.
(5) Parliament, shall by law, regulate the manner of participation in and financing of elections by individuals seeking political office as independent candidates.
Article 73 Uganda Constitution 1995
Regulations of political organisations
(1) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, but notwithstanding the provisions of articles 29(1)(e) and 43 of this Constitution, during the period when any of the political systems provided for in this Constitution has been adopted, organisations subscribing to other political systems may exist subject to such regulations as Parliament shall by law prescribe.
(2) Regulations prescribed under this article shall not exceed what is necessary for enabling the political system adopted to operate.
Article 74 Uganda Constitution 1995
Change of political systems by referenda or elections
(1) A referendum shall be held for the purpose of changing the political system—
(a) if requested by a resolution supported by more than half of all members of Parliament;
(b) if requested by a resolution supported by the majority of the total membership of each of at least one half of all district councils; or
(c) if requested through a petition to the Electoral Commission by at least one-tenth of the registered voters from each of at least two-thirds of the constituencies for which representatives are required to be directly elected under article 78(1)(a) of this Constitution.
(2) The political system may also be changed by the elected representatives of the people in Parliament and district councils by resolution of Parliament supported by not less than two-thirds of all members of Parliament upon a petition to it supported by not less than two-thirds majority of the total membership of each of at least half of all district councils.
(3) The resolutions or petitions for the purposes of changing the political system shall be taken only in the fourth year of the term of any Parliament.
Article 75 Uganda Constitution 1995
Prohibition of one-party State
Parliament shall have no power to enact a law establishing a one-party state.
General
Article 76 Uganda Constitution 1995
Parliament to enact laws on elections
Parliament may, subject to the provisions of this Constitution, enact such
laws as may be necessary for the purposes of this Chapter, including laws for
the registration of voters, the conduct of public elections and referenda and,
where necessary, making provision for voting by proxy.
