The Uganda cabinet has made concessions on the Political Organizations Bill 1999 and accepted most amendments proposed by a parliamentary committee.

Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Mayanja Nkangi told Parliament Wednesday that if the bill was to be adopted, political parties would have more freedom to operate.

Nkangi, who moved the Parliament debate, said that the cabinet had accepted 90 percent of the proposed amendments by the parliamentary and legal affairs committee chaired by Wandera Ogalo.

Once the bill is passed, Article 269 of the Constitution, which has been at the center of political controversy, will lapse.

The article bars parties from holding delegates conferences and rallies, opening branches, sponsoring candidates in elections and carrying out other activities likely to interfere with the ruling National Resistance Movement system.

The bill was first tabled in the Parliament during the last session but was withdrawn by the cabinet after the committee proposed radical amendments to it.

The Ogalo-led committee had proposed over 50 amendments to the 32-clause bill.

As the referendum on political system of the east African country draws near, the debate on the bill turns more heated than ever.

Under the Constitution, a referendum will be held in June 2000 to decide on the country's political system.

Political parties argue that the Article 269 of the Constitution is unfair to them and therefore should be abolished.