President Museveni is set to convene a crucial meeting with the NRM Parliamentary Caucus, aiming to solidify party unity and strategize on key policy and budgetary matters.
The agenda includes finalizing the 2025/26 budget, navigating potential financial challenges from US aid changes, and ensuring legislative alignment with recent Supreme Court decisions on military court proceedings.
Government Chief Whip Hamson Obua on Tuesday directed all NRM lawmakers to undergo mandatory Covid-19 tests as a prerequisite for attending the meeting due on Friday.
“Notice is hereby given that the 8th meeting of the NRM Parliamentary Caucus of the 4th session of the 11th Parliament will be held on, March 7, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. at State House Entebbe,” Obua stated.
“All members are required to undertake a Covid-19 test at Parliamentary Conference Hall B from March 5 to March 6, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.,” he added.
The agenda for the meeting remains unclear, but discussions are expected to focus on government priorities and budget allocations for the next financial year.
Last month, Obua also hinted that caucus discussions would explore budgetary adjustments in response to the United States’ suspension of foreign aid and grant funding to Uganda.
“That will also form part of the budget priorities because we are looking at where to cut to accommodate this,” he said at the time.
However, no official details were released after the February 19 caucus meeting regarding these budget reallocations.
Parliament in January approved the Shs57.4 trillionBudget Framework Paper for the 2025/25 financial year, despite concerns from some legislators.
Friday’s meeting follows a similar caucus gathering two weeks ago, where MPs were presented with draft amendments to the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Act.
The proposed changes aim to align military court trials with the Supreme Court’s ruling on January 31, which nullified the trial of civilians in the General Court Martial.
Obua previously announced that NRM MPs had resolved that:
Misconduct by serving military personnel should be tried in military courts, with the right to appeal in civilian courts.
Civilians found in possession of illegal firearms should face trial in military courts, with the right to appeal in civilian courts.