President Museveni Signs Five Crucial Bills, Cementing Legal Milestones in Uganda

Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa revealed on Tuesday that President Museveni has officially assented to five significant bills, marking a pivotal moment for Uganda's legal framework.
 These include the Civil Aviation Amendment Bill 2024, Judicature Amendment Bill 2023, Explosives Act 2023, Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act 2023, and Competition Act 2023. 

The Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Bill, 2023 allows the licenced farming and use of marijuana strictly for medical use, and sets harsh penalties for a multitude of offences related to substances abuse.

The newly enacted legislation permits the cultivation of marijuana and khat solely for medical and other authorized purposes, imposing severe penalties such as property forfeiture, lengthy imprisonment, and substantial fines for offenders.

Conversely, the Civil Aviation Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2024 aims to align Uganda's aviation regulatory body with the standards outlined in the Convention on International Civil Aviation.

It gives powers to a chief investigator to cause an investigation to be carried out where an aircraft accident or serious incident happens in Uganda or in any contracting state that does not intend to carry out an investigation.

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The chief investigator will also lead investigations into an accident or serious incident that occurs in Uganda or outside Uganda involving an aircraft registered in Uganda or an aircraft operated by an operator in Uganda.

Earlier this month, the bill was successfully passed by parliament, marking a significant step towards harmonizing Uganda's aviation practices with international standards.
The Judicature (Amendment) Bill, 2023, proposes an augmentation in the count of judges for both the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal.

The Supreme Court is the highest Court of judicature in Uganda while the Court of Appeal, which also sits as the Constitutional Court, listens to appeals from the High Court.

The Explosives Act 2023 is meant to streamline the licensing of explosives and its use in the mining sector, repeal the existing Explosives Act 1936, and create the position of Chief Explosives Inspector, among others.

The law defines explosives and seeks to steer clear of explosives imported for use as war material by security agencies, restricting itself to explosives used in mining and other related undertakings.

Clause 28 is designed to impose severe penalties for the unauthorized use or possession of explosives, proposing that offenders face either a fine of Shs10 billion, a 10-year prison sentence, or both fines and imprisonment.
Clause 29 outlines the procedure for obtaining a license for importing or using explosives, granting significant authority to the Minister of Internal Affairs, including the discretion to determine licensing fees.

The enactment of these five crucial bills by President Museveni signifies a landmark moment for Uganda's legal and regulatory framework. With measures aimed at modernizing key sectors such as aviation, judiciary, and narcotics control, Uganda is poised for progress and compliance with international standards.