“We Are Broke , Give Us Our IPOD Money” NUP Sues Electoral Commission

Kampala, Uganda — A fresh legal showdown is brewing as the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) drags the Electoral Commission (EC) to the High Court, demanding the release of funds allocated under the Inter-Party Organization for Dialogue (IPOD) framework.

This legal move comes in the wake of the EC disbursing money to political parties represented in Parliament—leaving out NUP, despite it being the largest opposition party in the House.

Under the Political Parties and Organizations (Amendment) Act, which governs the IPOD framework, only political parties that actively participate in the dialogue platform qualify for government funding based on their parliamentary strength.

What Sparked the Feud?

NUP has persistently refused to join IPOD, branding it a tool used by President Yoweri Museveni and the ruling NRM party to rubber-stamp what it describes as an “illegitimate regime.”

In a bid to enforce participation, Justice Minister Norbert Mao spearheaded changes to the Political Parties and Organizations Act, aiming to block funding for parties that boycott IPOD activities.

But NUP isn’t backing down. The party insists that the amended law hasn’t come into effect and therefore can’t be used to justify denying them funds.

“In the Constitutional Court, we are challenging the entire law. Here in the High Court, we are challenging the actions of the Minister and the Electoral Commission for discriminating against NUP — even violating the law itself,” said Lewis Rubongoya, NUP’s Secretary General.

He further claimed the new law lacks the legal machinery to enforce it.

“The entire amendment was meant to fight and cripple NUP. That is why Minister Mao wrote to the EC to exclude us. We are here to say that is wrong, irregular, and illegal,” he added.

The Legal and Political Crossfire

NUP’s legal team, led by Kawempe North MP Erias Nalukoola Luyimbazi, argues that the battle is about principle—not just money.

“Our claims are not centered on money but on legality. The amended law has no statutory instrument to operationalize it. We are still operating under the old regime, and the new one cannot apply until it is fully operationalized,” he said.

But IPOD Executive Director Lawrence Sserwambala stands firm, defending the EC’s decision and pointing to the rules of membership.

“NUP must first fulfill the conditions required to formally join IPOD before accessing the funds,” Sserwambala stated.