Lawmakers in Uganda have passed a revised version of the “Protection of Sovereignty Bill,” softening earlier provisions on foreign funding after warnings from the central bank that the original draft risked triggering “economic disaster.”
The legislation, adopted late Tuesday, now awaits the assent of President Yoweri Museveni, who has ruled the country since 1986.
The bill is aimed at curbing what authorities describe as undue foreign influence in domestic affairs. Museveni and allies in the ruling party have long accused opposition groups of relying on external funding and promoting foreign agendas, including on issues such as LGBTQ rights.
Under the law, individuals found to be acting on behalf of foreign interests without government approval could face penalties of up to 10 years in prison. It also criminalises the promotion of foreign interests deemed to run counter to Uganda’s national priorities.
Opposition parties in Uganda have historically received some financial support from abroad, a practice that has increasingly come under scrutiny from the government.
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Rights organisations have criticised the legislation, warning that its broad wording could be used to target political opponents and restrict civic space. The government has rejected those concerns, saying critics are overstating the bill’s impact.
Key provisions were scaled back during parliamentary debate following concerns from economic policymakers, including the central bank governor. Earlier drafts had proposed sweeping requirements for all Ugandans receiving foreign funds to register as foreign agents and disclose financial inflows.
In the final version, that requirement has been narrowed to apply only to individuals receiving foreign funding for political purposes that advance external interests.
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The revisions are seen as an attempt to strike a balance between political objectives and economic stability, after warnings that overly restrictive measures could deter investment and disrupt financial flows into the country.
The bill’s passage comes amid a broader trend across parts of Africa toward tightening regulation of foreign funding for political and civil society activities, often framed by governments as efforts to safeguard national sovereignty.
