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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Uganda’s parliament is dominated by the ruling party, and on Thursday an opposition lawmaker \u2014 in an apparent bid to delay voting on the bill \u2014 tore up a roster of lawmakers to vote on the bill as the speaker looked on.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n