The newly proposed Sovereignty Bill that was tabled before Parliament on Wednesday, is set to make it criminal for any Ugandan to solicit or receive assistance from a foreigner, including a fellow Ugandan or relative abroad without cabinet approval to face a penalty of fine of UGX 2 Billion and a 20 years’ imprisonment term.
According to the State Minister Internal Affairs Gen David Muhoozi, the Protection of Sovereignty Bill, 2026 is set to safeguard Uganda’s sovereignty and designate the department responsible for peace and security as the authority to register and regulate agents of foreigners.
Under the Bill, a foreigner includes any Non Ugandan citizen, any Ugandan citizen living abroad, any foreign government or embassy, any company or Non Government Organisation (NGO) registered outside Uganda, any entity the Minister of Internal Affairs chooses to declare a ‘foreigner’ by statutory instrument.
Development agency’s, diplomatic mission, and every foreign investor operating in Uganda is a foreigner while an agent of a foreigner is any person who acts for, is employed by, or is directly or indirectly financed, controlled or directed by a foreigner.
The bill if passed, will fine legal entities that commit similar offences 200,000 currency points (UGX 4 billion).
“A person or an agent of a foreigner shall not directly or indirectly obtain, solicit, or receive any financial support, donation, loan or other assistance from a foreigner, whether in cash or in kind, in excess of 20,000 currency points (UGX 400m) within a period of 12 months, without the written approval of the Minister,” the Bill states.
Furthermore, the internal Affairs Minister, Gen Muhoozi will be the only entity permitted to register citizens who want to become agents of foreigners.
However, the leader of opposition in Parliament, Joel Ssenyonyi, has since revealed that the proposed Bill is targeting members of the opposition and Civil Society organisations that ask for accountability form the ruling government.
Once passed and signed into law, foreigners will be barred from recruiting, contracting, engaging, partnering, or sponsoring any Ugandan to promote their interests.
The Speaker of Parliament Anita Among, has since referred the Bill to Defence and Internal Affairs committees, and Legal and Parliamentary Affairs for scrutiny.
