Published on: April 27, 2026
On 27th April 2026, the legal team at the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative joined other civil society organizations and submitted a memorandum to Parliament on the Protection of Sovereignty Bill, 2026, raising concerns that several provisions of the proposed law may conflict with the Constitution of Uganda.
FHRI argues that while the bill aims to protect national sovereignty from covert foreign interference, it contains overly broad definitions, excessive ministerial powers, and harsh penalties that could undermine fundamental rights such as freedom of expression, association, assembly, and political participation.
The memorandum further notes that Uganda already has sufficient laws regulating NGOs, foreign funding, public order, and financial compliance, making many provisions of the bill duplicative and potentially harmful to civil society, development programs, and international cooperation. FHRI recommends that Parliament reconsider the bill and instead pursue narrower, more proportionate reforms through targeted amendments to existing laws.