Uganda Parliament Passes Protection of Sovereignty Bill

Uganda's parliament passed the Protection of Sovereignty Bill late Tuesday after a heated debate and several amendments, despite criticism from rights groups and opposition lawmakers who warned it could restrict civil society and economic activity.

The legislation criminalizes actions deemed to promote the interests of foreigners against those of Uganda. It labels recipients of foreign funding as agents of foreigners and prohibits such agents from engaging in political activities that advance foreign interests, including funding or sponsoring them. Convictions carry prison sentences of up to 20 years.

Lawmakers approved changes that deleted a provision referring to Ugandans abroad as foreigners. The bill also exempts foreign funding received by supervised institutions, medical facilities, faith-based organizations, and academic and research bodies conducting activities approved under Ugandan law. President Yoweri Museveni had intervened the previous week, calling for revisions to avoid restricting capital flows while supporting limits on foreign political influence.

House Speaker Anita Among described the measure as "a historic bill." Ruling party lawmaker Kajwengye Twinomugisha...