The Ugandan government has formally introduced the Protection of Sovereignty Bill, 2026 before Parliament, proposing far-reaching restrictions on foreign influence, funding, and engagement within the country.<\/p>\n
The bill was tabled by State Minister for Internal Affairs David Muhoozi during a plenary session chaired by Speaker Anita Annet Among.<\/p>\n
Immediate pushback from MPs<\/p>\n
The tabling of the bill was met with instant from Members of Parliament, who raised concerns over the absence of physical copies of the draft legislation. Legislators argued that such a significant bill required proper documentation for review.<\/p>\n
However, Speaker Among dismissed the \u0627\u0639\u062a\u0631\u0627\u0636, directing MPs to access the document electronically via their iPads, allowing proceedings to continue.<\/p>\n
The proposed law introduces strict regulatory measures targeting individuals and organisations with links to foreign entities.<\/p>\n
Under the bill:<\/p>\n
Anyone acting on behalf of a foreign entity must formally register with authorities<\/p>\n
Individuals or organisations receiving more than Shs400 million annually from foreign sources must seek written approval from the minister<\/p>\n
All foreign loans to Ugandan borrowers will require government clearance<\/p>\n
Failure to comply could result in entities being classified as \u201cforeign agents,\u201d a designation that carries severe legal consequences.<\/p>\n
Heavy penalties and enforcement powers<\/p>\n
The legislation outlines tough punitive measures for violations:<\/p>\n
Individuals risk fines of up to Shs2 billion or prison sentences of up to 20 years<\/p>\n
Organisations, including NGOs and corporations, face fines of up to Shs4 billion<\/p>\n
Offences such as promoting foreign interests in elections or undermining the economy attract long custodial sentences<\/p>\n
The bill also grants authorities powers to seize assets and funds linked to breaches, significantly strengthening enforcement mechanisms.<\/p>\n
The proposal comes at a time of increasing tension between the state and civil society groups, following recent actions by the Financial Intelligence Authority, including the freezing of accounts and closure of several NGOs.<\/p>\n
Government officials argue that the bill is necessary to safeguard national sovereignty and prevent external interference in Uganda\u2019s political and economic affairs.<\/p>\n
The draft legislation has now been referred to the Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs, as well as the Legal Committee, for detailed scrutiny and public consultation.<\/p>\n
The outcome of this process is expected to spark significant national debate, as stakeholders weigh concerns over national security against issues of civic space, economic activity, and constitutional freedoms.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Ugandan government has formally introduced the Protection of Sovereignty Bill, 2026 before Parliament, proposing far-reaching restrictions on foreign influence, funding, and engagement within the country. The bill was tabled by State Minister for Internal Affairs David Muhoozi during a plenary session chaired by Speaker Anita Annet Among. Immediate pushback from MPs The tabling of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":8628,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[409],"tags":[589,898],"class_list":{"0":"post-8627","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-national","8":"tag-parliament-of-uganda","9":"tag-sovereignty-bill"},"yoast_head":"\n