Tayebwa calms down diplomats on Protection of Sovereignty Bill

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The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, has assured diplomats that the government will allow adequate consultations on the Protection of Sovereignty Bill 2026, which is steering debate across the divide.

Tayebwa made the assurance while officiating as the chief guest at the dinner to mark King’s Day at the Netherlands Embassy in Kampala on Thursday (April 23, 2026).

“I have received calls from very many diplomats, and we have engaged with many of them regarding the law that is in Parliament, that is the Protection of Sovereignty Bill 2026. I saw there was some sort of panic within the public that we are going to sort it the next day, because it was on the order paper,” he said.

He added; “I just want to reassure you that the process of consultations is still ongoing and we are going to allow adequate consultations so that we can pick views of the public, and we do what we are supposed to do as a Parliament.”

The event was attended by a number of dignitaries who included the minister of justice and constitutional affairs, Nobert Mao, minister of relief disaster preparedness and refugees, Eng. Hillary Onek, Principal Judge, Justice Jane Frances Abodo, US ambassador, William Popp, among others.

The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, addressing guests during King's Day dinner at the Dutch Embassy in Kampala on Thursday (April 23, 2026).

“The reason you saw it on the order paper, we are capturing all the business which we are going to work on in this session. So, before we prolog the house, we will have sorted out that bill. And I do believe the question shouldn't be on whether we need the bill or not, but on the content of the law. That's where the focus is,” Tayebwa said.

Tayebwa rallied those who have issues with the Bill to share with Parliament, which will ensure thorough scrutiny.

“We will engage with the executive, and we ensure that we do make a law that fits in our society, not our society fitting in the law,” Tayebwa said.

The opposition and some civil society actors have opposed the proposed legislation, citing that it is brought in bad faith to not only target them but also threaten the citizenship of Ugandans living in the diaspora.

Tayebwa and the outgoing Ambassador of the Netherlands in Uganda, Frederieke Quispel, toasted to the good health of His Majesty, King William Alexander and the warmer relations between Kampala and Hague.

“Uganda is proud to join you in commemorating this special event. The relationship between Uganda and the Kingdom of the Netherlands continues to grow from strength to strength, grounded in mutual respect, shared interests and a progressive partnership,” Tayebwa said.

According to Tayebwa, Kampala and Hague have made significant strides in deepening bilateral cooperation, high-level engagements, including meetings on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly and official visits between ‘our ‘respective leaders, reinforcing our shared commitment to advancing cooperation in key strategic areas.

“Our partnership has evolved into a modern, pragmatic trade, not an aid model, reflecting our shared ambition for sustainable economic transformation. The Kingdom of the Netherlands’ ongoing support for the private sector, involvement in agriculture and food security in Uganda, highlights the strong confidence your government places in our country as a strategic partner and regional hub,” Tayebwa said.

He commended the Netherlands for its continued support in advancing agriculture modernisation, including initiatives in dairy production, improved seeds and the emerging blue economy through aquaculture partnerships.

“These efforts are not only enhancing Uganda's export readiness, but are also empowering our farmers and small and medium enterprises to integrate into global value chains. Our cooperation with the Kingdom of the Netherlands extends beyond trade into critical areas such as climate resilience, governance and justice, strengthening Uganda's institutional capacity and service delivery,” Tayebwa said.

Ambassador Quispel commended the hospitality the people of Uganda have shown her during her call of duty in Kampala.

“It's my great pleasure to welcome you as we celebrate King's Day 2026. Tonight, we celebrate the 59th birthday of His Majesty, King Willem Alexander. That's actually happening Monday, but we just thought Monday is not the best evening for a party, so we decided to move it forward. I'm happy that we can celebrate King's Day here and bring a bit of the Netherlands to Uganda,” Quispel said.

She added; “I'm returning to the Hague this summer, and so I'm taking a few minutes to speak from the heart. Upon arriving in Uganda, and that was only two years ago, I was struck by the warmth and the openness with which I was welcomed here in Uganda, and ease of conversations with strangers that very quickly became friends and the generosity of spirit. that defined so many of my encounters.”

“So, my thanks to my absolutely amazing team at the Netherlands Embassy. They made my time here fantastic. Luckily, we have a couple of more months, but I do want to mention it, but also to my predecessors, they laid a firm foundation on which I was allowed to stand and try to build. And it's precisely because of that foundation, human, institutional and economic, that I can say with confidence that we are building on strength,” Quispel added.

She disclosed that because of the warmer bilateral relations between the Hague and Kampala, the Netherlands is Uganda's largest source of foreign direct investment.

“Dutch companies across agriculture, tourism, energy and finance are proving that doing business here works. The Dutch Investment bank has invested over $200m (sh743b) across these sectors. In agriculture, we support over 600,000 farming families with over $30m (sh 111.4b annually,” Quispel said.

In the health sector, she said they spend $20m (sh74.3b) a year with a strong focus on women and girls.