Breaking News!! NRM MPs Pass UPDF Amendment Bill

The Parliament of Uganda has passed a new law called the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (Amendment) Bill, 2025. This Bill is expected to bring big changes to the way the country’s armed forces are organized and how military justice is handled.

The Bill was introduced by Hon. Jacob Oboth-Oboth, who is the Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs. After a round of discussions and debates, Members of Parliament voted to support and pass the Bill. Now, all that remains is for President Yoweri Museveni to sign it into law.

So, what does this Bill aim to do?

The UPDF Amendment Bill is designed to improve how the military works. It focuses on making the structures and systems within the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) clearer and more organized. This includes setting up a more efficient way of handling military matters and ensuring that everything fits well with Uganda’s Constitution.

One of the main goals of the Bill is to improve the military justice system. It explains what counts as service offences and how those who break military laws will be handled. The Bill also talks about the roles of different military courts, such as courts-martial, which are used to try soldiers who commit offences while serving in the military.

Another important part of the Bill is about the reserve force. These are trained soldiers who are not currently active but can be called back to service when needed. The Bill provides clearer rules about how this reserve force should be managed.

The passing of this Bill is being seen as a step forward for the UPDF and the country. It shows that the government wants to make sure the military is professional, disciplined, and follows the law.

If the President signs the Bill into law, the UPDF will have better systems in place to handle internal matters, punish wrongdoing, and protect the country more effectively.

This move could also help build more trust between the military and the public, since it makes sure that military actions are guided by clear rules and the Constitution.

Ugandans will now be waiting to see how the new changes are put into action, and how they will help improve the strength and fairness of the country’s armed forces.