How To Register A Political Party In Uganda

What Is A Political Party?

A political party is an organization that coordinates candidates to compete in a particular country’s elections. It is common for the members of a party to hold similar ideas about politics, and parties may promote specific ideological or policy goals.

How To Register A Political Party In Uganda

(1) A political party or organisation in Uganda shall be registered in accordance with this Act and shall pay such fee as may be prescribed by the Minister by regulations made under section 27.

   (2) The Electoral Commission shall maintain a register of political parties and organisations under this Act.

   (3) A political party or organisation registered under this Act shall be a body corporate and shall have perpetual succession and may sue and be sued in its corporate name; but a court or tribunal shall not have power in any suit to grant an order of involuntary winding up of a political party or organisation in favour of a judgment creditor.

(1) Make a formal request (in writing) to the Electoral Commission expressing your intention and making reservation of the Name, Symbol, Slogans and Colours of your Political Party.
(2) Obtain from the Electoral Commission an Application Form (Form 1 in the Third Schedule of the PPOA, 2005).
(3) Obtain from the Electoral Commission a Declaration of Assets and Liabilities and Particulars of the Political Party or Organization (Form 2 in the Third Schedule of the PPOA, 2005).
(4) Submit Forms 1 and 2 duly filled by the Applicant and endorsed by a Commissioner for Oaths/Notary Public.
(5) Submit two copies of the Party Constitution, duly signed by authorized officials of the organization together with proof of payment of Deed fee as prescribed in the Regulations.
(6) Submit a list of the full names and addresses of at least fifty members of the organization from each of at least two thirds of all the districts of each of the traditional geographical regions of Uganda and who must be resident or registered voters in the district.
(7) Provide a full description of the identifying Symbols, Slogans, and Colours of the Organization or Political Party and after approval, pay the prescribed registration fee. 
(8) On receipt of the Application the Commission will embark on the registration process and may cause independent inquiries to be made to ascertain the truth or correctness of particulars submitted with the Application. The Electoral Commission shall process the application within six months.
(9) The Electoral Commission shall not register any political party or Organisation whose name, slogan or colour resembles that of a Political Party that has already been registered or whose aims and objectives or Constitution contravenes any law. 

Method Of Registration Of Political Parties And Organisations

(1) An application to register a political party or organisation shall be made to the Electoral Commission and shall be accompanied by

   (a)   two copies of the constitution of the political party or organisation duly signed by authorised officers of the political party or organisation;

   (b)   a list of the full names and addresses of at least 50 members of the political party or organisation from each of at least two-thirds of all the districts of each of the traditional geographical regions of Uganda listed in the Second Schedule, being members ordinarily resident or registered as voters in the district;

   (c)   a full description of the identifying symbols, slogans and colours of the political party or organisation, if any;

   (d)   the registration fee specified in section 6(1).

   (2) The application referred to in subsection (1) shall be in Form 1 in the Third Schedule.

   (3) The Electoral Commission may cause independent inquiries to be made so as to ascertain the truth or correctness of particulars submitted with the application.

   (4) The Electoral Commission shall cause a notice of the application to be published in the Gazette within 30 days after receiving it, inviting objections from any person concerning the name, aim, objects, and constitution of the political party or organisation or on any other lawful ground and specifying the time not being longer than 14 days within which the objections must be submitted.

   (5) The Electoral Commission shall not register an

Procedure To Register A Political Party In Uganda

Apply in person

  1. Applicant should write a formal letter to the Electoral Commission stating their intention to register a political party and make a reservation of the Name, Symbol, Slogans and Colours of the Political Party as well
  2. The applicant should then visit the Electoral Commission office and request for the application form (form 1) and a Declaration of Assets and Liabilities and Particulars of the Political Party or Organization (Form 2)
  3. The applicant should then dully filled the application forms and should be endorsed by a commissioner for oaths/notary public
  4. Submitted the filled forms and all the required documents copies to the electoral commissioner
  5. The electoral commissioner will process your application upon receiving it and an independent inquire will be formed to verify the authenticity of your application
  6. The electoral commissioner will the publish your application with the government gazette within 30 days of receiving your application, inviting objection from any person concerning the registration of the party within 14 days of publish
  7. If all the information are in order and the is no public objection, the electoral commissioner will then register the political party, upon payment of all fees within six months

NOTE

  1. Where upon independent inquiries, the Electoral Commission is of the opinion that the particulars submitted are false or inaccurate—(a) The Electoral Commission shall, within 14 days, give notice of its opinion in writing and require the party or organization to show cause why the registration should not be refused and(b) The political party or organization shall submit its answer in writing within 21 days after receipt of the notice.

Required Documents To Register A Political Party In Uganda

  1. Two copies of party constitution
  2. Form 1 and 2 duly filled by the applicant and endorsed by a commissioner for oaths/notary public
  3. a list of the full names and addresses of at least fifty members of the organization from each of at least two thirds of all the districts of each of the traditional geographical regions of Uganda and who must be resident or registered voters in the district.
  4. Provide a full description of the identifying Symbols, Slogans, and Colours of the Organization or Political Party
  5. Proof of registration fee payment.

Instructions To Register A Political Party In Uganda

The Electoral Commission shall not register any political party or organization whose— (a) Name, symbol, slogan, or colour resembles that of a political party or organization that has already been registered or contravenes (b) Aims, objectives, or constitution, contravene any law.

Required Information To Register A Political Party In Uganda

  1. Name, symbol, slogan, or colour resembles that of a political party to be registered
  2. a list of the full names and addresses of at least 50 members of the political party or organisation from each of at least two-thirds of all the districts of each of the traditional geographical regions of Uganda listed in the Second Schedule, being members ordinarily resident or registered as voters in the district
  3. Two copies of the constitution of the political party or organisation duly signed by authorised officers of the political party or organisation.

Processing Time To Register A Political Party In Uganda

  • Within 7 months if all the information are in order and the is no public objection

Need for the Document To Register A Political Party In Uganda

A political party is an organized group of people who have the same ideology, or who otherwise have the same political positions, and who field candidates for elections, in an attempt to get them elected and thereby implement the party’s agenda.

Office Locations & Contacts To Register A Political Party In Uganda

Electoral Commission
Head Office
PHYSICAL ADDRESS
Electoral Commission.,
Plot 55 Jinja Road ,
Kampala ,Uganda.
P.O.Box 22678, Kampala, Uganda

EMAIL ADDRESS
inquiries: info@ec.or.ug
Secretariate: secretary@ec.or.ug
Public Relations: pr@ec.or.ug