Uganda’s parliament on Tuesday passed a contentious bill that critics say will make it impossible to stage street protests against the country’s long-serving president, following months of confrontation between the authorities and activists who had mounted a campaign to have the legislation jettisoned.

The “Public Order Management Bill” was passed five days after opposition lawmakers staged a fierce attempt to filibuster its passage amid concerns it gives Ugandan police dictatorial powers to decide who can stage a public event of a political nature.

Uganda’s parliament is dominated by the ruling party, and on Thursday an opposition lawmaker — in an apparent bid to delay voting on the bill — tore up a roster of lawmakers to vote on the bill as the speaker looked on.

Amnesty International said Monday that the legislation “represents a serious blow to open political debate” in a country that is seeing more and more protests against President Yoweri Museveni, who has held power for nearly three decades.

“The bill imposes wide ranging restrictions on public meetings and gives the police unprecedented powers to prohibit and disperse public gatherings of a political nature,” the rights watchdog said in a statement.

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