US Edition'Sovereignty' bill seeking to deter foreign influence has drawn widespread concern in Uganda
The bill would force some recipients of foreign support to register as agents and could impose 20-year prison terms for policy violations, critics say.
- On Thursday, The Parliament of Uganda began reading the Protection of Sovereignty bill, which seeks to "protect Uganda's sovereignty from foreign interference" through strict regulations on external funding.
- President Yoweri Museveni, who has held power since 1986, has repeatedly accused rival Bobi Wine of being an unpatriotic "agent of a foreigner," fueling suspicion that the legislation aims to weaken opposition and civic groups.
- "Compliance and reputational risk rise overnight," The Uganda Bankers Association warned, as the bill defines citizens abroad as "foreigners" and mandates registration for anyone financed by external sources.
- The Uganda Law Society, dubbing the legislation the "Anti-Sovereignty Bill," warned it "is designed to crush free speech" and restricts grants over 400 million Shs without ministerial approval, placing NGOs under "unlimited discretion."
- Lawmakers are fast-tracking the bill just eight days after its first reading on April 15, bypassing the standard 45-day scrutiny period, as critics argue the rapid process ignores catastrophic risks to civil society and self-determination.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Ugandan journalists face up to 20 years in jail under draconian foreign agents bill
New York, April 24, 2026—Uganda is set to pass a foreign agents bill, whose sweeping provisions could be used to imprison journalists critically reporting on economics, foreign policy, or elections for up to 20 years, limit foreign media funding to about $100,000, and subject newsrooms to intrusive state oversight. The Protection of Sovereignty Bill says it aims to register “agents of foreigners” and regulate their funding with tough penalties t…
Uganda: Sovereignty Bill Threatens Speech, Assembly
Click to expand Image Ugandan lawmakers arrive at the parliament, in Kampala, Uganda September 21, 2017. © 2018 Reuters (Nairobi) – A bill before Uganda’s parliament that proposes sweeping controls over “foreign funding” and political activity threatens fundamental rights and could be used to shut down civil society, Human Rights Watch said today. The bill emulates laws adopted in recent years by other rights-abusing governments, which have been…
Uganda: Parliament Rushes Protection of Sovereignty Bill
[Independent (Kampala)] Kampala -- The Parliament of Uganda is today proceeding with the second and third readings of the Protection of Sovereignty Bill, 2026. The decision to fast-track the legislation comes just eight days after its first reading on April 15, 2026, effectively bypassing the standard 45-day window typically reserved for committee scrutiny and public consultation.
Associated Press News
'Sovereignty' bill seeking to deter foreign influence has drawn widespread concern in Uganda
A bill by Ugandan authorities whose stated purpose is to deter foreign interference has drawn widespread criticism as concern grows over its all-encompassing definition of a foreign agent and its potential to hurt civic groups.
'Sovereignty' bill draws widespread concern in Uganda
A bill by Ugandan authorities whose stated purpose is to deter foreign interference has drawn widespread criticism as concern grows over its all-encompassing definition of a foreign agent and its potential to hurt civic groups
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