Parliament is facing renewed scrutiny following the introduction of the Protection of Sovereignty Bill, 2025, legislation aimed at strengthening Uganda’s control over foreign influence and asserting national autonomy.
The bill, backed by members of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) Parliamentary Caucus, seeks to ensure that foreign resources and activities within Uganda comply with national interests.
Provisions under the bill would require organisations to disclose foreign funding within 14 days, grant the Minister of Internal Affairs expanded oversight powers, and establish mechanisms to prevent actions perceived as undermining national sovereignty.
Government Chief Whip Hon. Denis Hamson Obua emphasised the necessity of such measures, stating, “If we are to protect the integrity of our institutions and the sovereignty of our people, we must build legal safeguards that help us assert control over how foreign resources interact with our national systems.”
According to New Vision, Uganda’s state-owned newspaper, published on 4th March, it states that 16-year-old activist Martin Luther Nyanzi called for legislation to create a legal framework for regulating and supporting community-based organisations (CBOs) and local non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
Observers note that the Protection of Sovereignty Bill is essentially a modified version of the earlier NGO funding measures, pointing to similarities in objectives: both bills target NGOs, require disclosure of foreign funding within 14 days, and give the Minister of Internal Affairs significant regulatory authority.
“It appears the NGO funding approach has simply been modified. The wording has shifted, but the main goals remain the same — monitoring foreign funding, controlling NGOs, and expanding ministerial powers,” a civil society analyst said.
Opposition figures and rights advocates have voiced concerns that the legislation could restrict civic space and limit the independent activities of NGOs engaged in sectors like health, education, and community development.
Supporters argue that enhanced oversight is a legitimate step to ensure foreign funding aligns with Uganda’s priorities and that transparency in civil society operations is necessary to safeguard national interests.
As the Protection of Sovereignty Bill moves through committees and parliamentary debate, its passage will likely set the framework for how foreign resources and civil society organisations operate in Uganda in the years to come.
