The Electoral Commission has cleared the former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) faction based at Katonga Road to kick start the processes of registering their political party, the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF).
In a letter to district authorities, Leonard Mulekwah Leonard, the Secretary to the Electoral Commission, cleared the Katonga faction to proceed with the collection of signatures ahead of registration of the party.
“This is to introduce to you promoters of the People’s Front for Freedom who wish to collect signatures in support of registration of their political party. The right to form political parties and other political organisations is guaranteed in the Constitution of Uganda.”
He said political parties and organisations require any promoter wishing to register a political party or organisation to attach on their application a list of the full names and addresses of at least fifty members of their political party or organisation from each of at least two-thirds of all districts of Uganda.
“Please take cognizant of the fact that the commission processes registration within six months. Therefore, the completion of this signature collection exercise should occur by January 3, 2025, she stated.
Last month, the Electoral Commission declined to reserve the name, colours, symbol, and slogan proposed by the former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) members based on Katonga Road ahead of registration of their political party.
Mulekwah said the Political Parties and Organisations Act, 2005 (as amended), requires that the application for registration of a political party or organisation should be accompanied, among others, by a full description of the identifying symbols, slogans, and colours.
She said their submission merely stated the colours being white and royal blue and a symbol of a phone, without a full description of the said symbol and colours submitted for reservation.
“The submissions in respect of names of the proposed political party, People’s People Power Front (PPF), which is likely to confuse members of the public,” she said.
She stated that the choice of white and royal blue as colours closely resembles that of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and is likely to confuse the general public. Please refer to the symbol in use by the FDC party. The Political Parties and Organisations’ Act prohibits the usage of a colour, name, or initials of any registered political party or organisation.
“This is, therefore, to inform you that you comply with the relevant provisions under the Political Parties and Organisations ‘Act governing the registration of Political Parties and Organisations,” she said.
