NRM parliamentary caucus meets to align on Sovereignty Bill

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The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party's parliamentary caucus is meeting today, May 5, 2026, at the Office of the President to harmonise its position on the contested Protection of Sovereignty Bill, 2026, ahead of debate in Parliament.

The meeting, chaired by Government Chief Whip Denis Hamson Obua, has brought together NRM Members of Parliament to agree on key clauses before the House convenes later in the day.

Caucus spokesperson Alex Brandon Kintu says the meeting is intended to ease internal divisions and present a unified position during debate.

Kintu indicates that the committee report on the Bill is complete and incorporates submissions from various stakeholders, including concerns raised by the Bank of Uganda Governor over proposals that could complicate financial oversight and trigger informal financial flows.

Kintu notes that discussions during the Speke Resort Munyonyo retreat allowed MPs to express their views, though some members who arrived late sought to reopen clauses already agreed upon by the committee.

The joint committee on defence and internal affairs and the committee on legal and parliamentary affairs examined the Bill during a two-day retreat at Commonwealth Resort Munyonyo beginning May 2. The meeting ended with a majority vote reported at 22 to 11 in favour of adopting the Bill with amendments proposed by the Attorney General.

Opposition legislators have criticised the process.

Gilbert Olanya said members were not given adequate opportunity to debate the proposals, claiming the report had been prepared in advance for endorsement. He stated that opposition MPs are preparing minority reports to challenge the committee’s conclusions.

Jonathan Odur (Erute County South, UPC) and Olanya opposed the speed at which the bill is being handled. The committee sessions were chaired by Wilson Kajwengye and Stephen Baka Mugabi.

Proceedings were marked by sharp disagreements, with reports of heated verbal exchanges among MPs on May 3 over how to process the Bill.

The proposed law has drawn criticism over clauses that define Ugandans living abroad as “foreigners,” place tighter controls on non-governmental organisation funding, and introduce penalties for activities considered to undermine national sovereignty.

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has since clarified that the bill is intended to shield Uganda’s policy decisions from external influence. Museveni directed that contentious provisions be reviewed to ensure they do not disrupt private investment, religious contributions, or diaspora remittances. Members of the civil society have opposed the passing of the Bill.