Parliament is to have a sitting on Thursday this week to consider the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2015. The Bill was referred to the Defence & Internal Affairs Committee chaired by Mubende Woman Member of Parliament Benny Namugwanya on 30th April 2015 for scrutiny. Surprisingly the parliament is being summoned after the Speaker Rebecca Kadaga had adjourned parliament during the budget speech to 23rd June.
According to the draft Anti-Terrorism Amendment Bill 2015, any person who willingly collects or provides funds, directly or indirectly, by any means, with the intention that such funds will be used for terrorism activities will be liable for the offence of terrorism financing. The bill seeks to empower the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to freeze any account held in financial institutions upon getting evidence that such an account holds funds intended for terrorism activities. The IGP would also have powers to seize properties owned by terrorism convicts.
The bill which was reintroduced by the Minister of Internal Affairs , General Aronda Nyakairima in parliament, further states that any person convicted of terrorism financing would be liable to imprisonment for 20 years or to a fine not exceeding five hundred thousand currency points (Shs 10bn) or both if the bill is passed. Previously, the offence of terrorism financing was not clearly spelt out under the Anti-Terrorism Act 2002.
According to government, the amendment aims to harmonize Uganda’s legal regime on anti-terrorism with the international standard envisaged by the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism.