The Farmers Party of Uganda led by former presidential candidate Gen Benon Biraro is among five political parties that are to be deregistered by the Electoral Commission (EC).
According to Mr Eric Sabiti, the EC lawyer, the affected political parties, which also include the Republican Women and Youth Party, the National Youth Revolutionary Organisation, Popular People’s Democracy and Uganda People’s Party have over the years not been declaring their assets and liabilities in accordance with the law.
“Over the years, they have failed to make their submissions despite our efforts to write to them and even meet them over the matter,” Mr Sabiiti said.
Gen Biraro, a Bush War hero, won the hearts and minds of many Ugandans during the 2016 presidential campaigns, with his promises of reducing on the size of Parliament, a process which he said would begin with the scrapping of army MPs, saying they are supposed to be neutral.
According to the Political Parties and organisation Act, all political parties are required to submit their audited accounts to the EC, failure of which, leads to deregistration. Most of the affected political parties last filed their accounts statements to the EC in 2010, more than seven years ago.
Gen Biraro joined the Bush war from Makerere University on June 7, 1982. He served in several capacities until he became Secretary to High Command and National Resistance Council 1984.
He deputised Mr Museveni’s Principle Private Secretary in 1986 before becoming the Kitgum District Special Administrator from 1986 to 1987. He also served as the Deputy Commandant Kyankwanzi Political School. He was also the Commanding Officer 97 Battalion in Eastern Uganda that ended the insurgency in Samia, Teso.
