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\t\t\t\t\tBy Alexander Luyima | The Hoima Post
\nKAMPALA, Uganda \u2014 The Ugandan government is moving swiftly to pass the Protection of Sovereignty Bill 2025, a sweeping piece of legislation that officials say will shield the country from foreign interference. However, critics warn the bill could significantly restrict civic space, target the diaspora, and further erode democratic freedoms.The proposed law comes amid growing concern over Uganda\u2019s human rights record, with reports of abductions, torture, and extrajudicial killings by state security forces already raising alarm both locally and internationally. Observers fear the bill could entrench these practices under legal cover rather than prevent external influence.\u201cThis bill can be likened to a tsunami,\u201d said Henry Muguzi, Executive Director of the Alliance for Finance Monitoring. \u201cA tsunami does not distinguish between those who caused it and those who did not. It affects everyone in its path.\u201dFast-Tracked Through ParliamentThe bill has received strong backing from the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) parliamentary caucus, following a high-level meeting at State House Entebbe chaired by Yoweri Museveni. Lawmakers have reportedly agreed to expedite its passage, with indications it could be tabled and approved within days.Government Chief Whip Hamson Obua defended the bill, arguing it aligns with international precedent.\u201cWe were colonised by the British. The UK had similar legislation. We are not reinventing the wheel,\u201d Obua said. \u201cWe want full sovereignty and to secure it through this law.\u201dThe draft legislation outlines offences such as \u201cpromoting foreign interests,\u201d \u201ceconomic sabotage,\u201d and \u201cinterference in elections.\u201d Penalties include fines of up to UGX 2 billion (approximately USD 540,000), prison sentences of up to 20 years, and asset confiscation linked to alleged foreign influence.Diaspora Redefined as \u2018Foreigners\u2019One of the most controversial provisions is the bill\u2019s broad definition of a \u201cforeigner,\u201d which extends to Ugandan citizens living abroad.Legal experts argue this could expose diaspora Ugandans to prosecution for activities deemed critical of the government.\u201cThis is legally incoherent and politically dangerous,\u201d said Francis Gimara, a human rights lawyer and former president of the Uganda Law Society. \u201cCitizenship does not change based on residence. This provision appears designed to target diaspora voices.\u201dVague Language, Expansive PowersCritics have also raised concerns about the bill\u2019s ambiguous wording. Terms such as \u201cpromoting foreign interests\u201d and \u201ceconomic sabotage\u201d are not clearly defined, potentially granting broad discretionary powers to the executive.Prominent human rights lawyer Nicholas Opiyo warned that such provisions mirror past legislation used to silence dissent.\u201cWhen laws are drafted with undefined terms and enforced selectively, they become tools of repression,\u201d Opiyo said. \u201cThis is not about sovereignty. It is about control.\u201dCivil Society at RiskCivil society organisations, many of which rely on foreign funding, could face severe operational restrictions under the bill.The proposed law requires organisations to declare foreign funding within 14 days and grants authorities the power to block or limit funding deemed contrary to national interests.Agnes Taaka, Country Director for ActionAid Uganda, warned of the broader impact.\u201cThis is not about organisations. It is about the communities we serve,\u201d she said. \u201cIf this bill passes, it is ordinary Ugandans who will suffer \u2014 those relying on healthcare, education, and social support.\u201dA Troubling Human Rights ContextThe bill emerges amid heightened scrutiny of Uganda\u2019s human rights record. Security forces have been repeatedly accused of enforced disappearances, torture, and unlawful killings targeting opposition figures, journalists, and activists.In August 2024, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed concern over reports of such abuses, urging the government to uphold the rule of law and ensure accountability.Similarly, Amnesty International has warned that the proposed law could worsen the situation.\u201cYou cannot claim to protect sovereignty while violations continue with impunity,\u201d said Sarah Jackson, Amnesty International\u2019s Deputy Regional Director for East and Southern Africa. \u201cThis risks legitimising repression.\u201dGovernment Stands FirmDespite criticism, government officials maintain that the bill is necessary to protect Uganda\u2019s independence.Minister of Information and National Guidance, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, defended the proposal, stating that foreign-funded entities have increasingly influenced domestic affairs.\u201cThis law ensures no external force undermines our governance,\u201d he said. \u201cSovereignty is not negotiable.\u201dHowever, critics question whether such measures are necessary in a system where the ruling party maintains a strong parliamentary majority.What Comes NextThe Protection of Sovereignty Bill 2025 is expected to be tabled in Parliament imminently. Given the NRM\u2019s dominance, its passage appears likely unless significant domestic and international pressure leads to amendments.Civil society groups have begun mobilising public awareness campaigns, urging lawmakers to reconsider provisions they describe as overly broad and punitive.As debate intensifies, the implications are becoming clearer.\u201cIf this bill becomes law, a journalist citing a foreign report, a student receiving an international scholarship, or an organisation partnering globally could be criminalised,\u201d Opiyo warned.\u201cThat is not sovereignty. That is fear.\u201dAlexander Luyima is a journalist based in Kampala and a contributor to The Hoima Post, covering governance, human rights, and civil society in Uganda.Editor\u2019s NoteThis article is part of The Hoima Post\u2019s ongoing coverage of legislation affecting civic space and democratic governance in Uganda<\/p>\n
\tRelated<\/p>\n\n By Alexander Luyima | The Hoima Post KAMPALA, Uganda \u2014 The Ugandan government is moving swiftly to pass the Protection of Sovereignty Bill 2025, a sweeping piece of legislation that officials say will shield the country from foreign interference. However, critics warn the bill could significantly restrict civic space, target the diaspora, and further erode …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":172,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":{"facebook_3659155457675267_172535249438148":""},"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-171","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-news"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/xavieradioug.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Ugandas-Sovereignty-Bill-Sparks-Fears-of-Crackdown-on-Civic-Space.jpg",1200,630,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/xavieradioug.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Ugandas-Sovereignty-Bill-Sparks-Fears-of-Crackdown-on-Civic-Space-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/xavieradioug.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Ugandas-Sovereignty-Bill-Sparks-Fears-of-Crackdown-on-Civic-Space-300x158.jpg",300,158,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/xavieradioug.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Ugandas-Sovereignty-Bill-Sparks-Fears-of-Crackdown-on-Civic-Space-768x403.jpg",618,324,true],"large":["https:\/\/xavieradioug.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Ugandas-Sovereignty-Bill-Sparks-Fears-of-Crackdown-on-Civic-Space-1024x538.jpg",618,325,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/xavieradioug.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Ugandas-Sovereignty-Bill-Sparks-Fears-of-Crackdown-on-Civic-Space.jpg",1200,630,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/xavieradioug.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Ugandas-Sovereignty-Bill-Sparks-Fears-of-Crackdown-on-Civic-Space.jpg",1200,630,false],"tie-small":["https:\/\/xavieradioug.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Ugandas-Sovereignty-Bill-Sparks-Fears-of-Crackdown-on-Civic-Space.jpg",110,58,false],"tie-medium":["https:\/\/xavieradioug.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Ugandas-Sovereignty-Bill-Sparks-Fears-of-Crackdown-on-Civic-Space.jpg",310,163,false],"tie-large":["https:\/\/xavieradioug.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Ugandas-Sovereignty-Bill-Sparks-Fears-of-Crackdown-on-Civic-Space.jpg",310,163,false],"slider":["https:\/\/xavieradioug.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Ugandas-Sovereignty-Bill-Sparks-Fears-of-Crackdown-on-Civic-Space.jpg",629,330,false],"big-slider":["https:\/\/xavieradioug.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Ugandas-Sovereignty-Bill-Sparks-Fears-of-Crackdown-on-Civic-Space.jpg",1000,525,false]},"author_info":{"info":["Editor"]},"category_info":"News<\/a>","tag_info":"News","comment_count":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/xavieradioug.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/171","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/xavieradioug.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/xavieradioug.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xavieradioug.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xavieradioug.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=171"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/xavieradioug.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/171\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xavieradioug.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/172"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/xavieradioug.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=171"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xavieradioug.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=171"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xavieradioug.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=171"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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