Civil society organizations have strongly criticized the proposed Protection of Sovereignty Bill 2026, currently under review by the Parliamentary Internal Affairs Committee.
The Bill, drafted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and later adopted by the government, seeks to regulate foreign funding and political activity in a bid to protect national interests. Government argues that despite efforts to uphold sovereign control, Uganda continues to face challenges from external interference in its policies and programmes.
Officials further contend that the absence of a specific law safeguarding national sovereignty has allowed foreign countries and agents to influence government decisions, undermining the country’s ability to self-govern independently.
However, civil society leaders have raised alarm over the proposed legislation.
Speaking during a breakfast meeting with media institutions in Kampala, Sarah Bireete of the Center for Constitutional Governance and Godber Tumushabe warned that the Bill is “draconian” and deceptively framed.
They argued that the law, if passed, could severely restrict income streams tied to foreign funding.
According to them, local farmers, social media users, institutions supported by international partners, and Ugandans working abroad—particularly in Arab countries and sending remittances home—could all be negatively affected.
The civil society actors maintain that the Bill, in its current form, risks undermining livelihoods rather than protecting national sovereignty, and have called for broader public scrutiny before any further progress is made.
By Charles Katabalwa
20th April 2026
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