DP Legal Advisor Petitions Electoral Commission Over Disputed Constitutional Amendments
Kampala, Uganda – May 14, 2025
The Democratic Party (DP) is facing renewed internal turmoil after its Deputy Legal Advisor, Richard K. Lumu, officially petitioned the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), accusing Secretary General Gerald Siranda Blacks of fraudulently altering the party’s constitution without proper authorization.
In his petition, dated May 9 and received by the IEC on May 12, Lumu claims that the amendments gazetted by Siranda were not approved by delegates at the 2020 National Delegates Conference (NDC) held in Gulu. According to Lumu, these changes were neither tabled nor endorsed by the appropriate party organs.
“The version submitted for gazettement does not reflect the constitutional proposals I moved, nor were they sanctioned by the National Executive Committee,” Lumu stated.
The contested amendments were published in The Uganda Gazette Vol. CXVIII No. 33, under General Notice No. 1143 of 2025.
Alleged Overreach and Power Centralization
Lumu alleges that the amendments give sweeping financial and procedural control to the Secretary General, weaken youth and women representation, and include clauses that bar party members from accessing courts without first going through internal dispute resolution mechanisms—mechanisms he says are dominated by those accused of wrongdoing.
“These actions not only violate internal democratic principles but also contradict the constitutional right to a fair hearing,” he warned.
He also criticized new internal election guidelines, including nomination fees, which were allegedly introduced based on the unauthorized amendments. Lumu claims these measures were never approved by NEC and serve to restrict participation by financially burdening aspiring candidates.
A Party at a Crossroads
DP, Uganda’s oldest political party, is now in the midst of a deepening leadership crisis just a year ahead of the 2026 general elections. The allegations point to a growing rift within the party’s hierarchy, raising concerns about its organizational credibility and electoral readiness.
Observers note that the party’s reputation for principled politics and internal democracy is being undermined by increasing factionalism and governance disputes.
Lumu has asked the Electoral Commission to:
- Investigate the gazettement process
- Withhold recognition of the disputed amendments
- Caution the Secretary General against issuing new directives based on unratified rules
He further urged the IEC to uphold the democratic standards enshrined in Uganda’s Constitution and the Political Parties and Organisations Act.
As internal battles escalate, the Democratic Party’s standing—and future—hangs in the balance.https://www.ugandaliving.com/1707/dp-legal-advisor-petitions-electoral-commission-over-disputed-constitutional-amendments/
