Why MP Nambooze wanted Sovereignty Bill passed by next Parliament

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Last Thursday, as the joint committees of Defence and Legal Affairs considered the repurposed draft of the Protection of Sovereignty Bill, 2026, Mukono Municipality MP Betty Nambooze (NUP), who had been absent throughout the proceedings, put members on notice

Submitting after Attorney General (AG) Kiryowa Kiwanuka, Nambooze reminded the two chairpersons; Wilson Kajwengye and Stephen Bakka Mugabi, that although she had been informed that hearings had concluded, she had not been accorded an opportunity to present her views in her capacity as Shadow Minister for Internal Affairs.

“I am a member of the committee of defence and internal affairs. I humbly request that you capture me when you are hearing from members of the committee because I am one,” she implored. “Okay, we will look at that after,” Bakka ruled.

Nambooze petitions Speaker

However, while presenting the minority report on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, Nambooze told the House that while her submission had been lined up for presentation at the report writing retreat that transpired at Speke Resort Munyonyo, this did not happen.

“When we reached Munyonyo, Honourable Speaker, Honourable Kajwengye ruled that my request had been overtaken by events. I chose to write a minority report because the issues I was going to raise had not been raised by anybody else,” Nambooze said.

She also told parliament that a memorandum on the Bill from the Buganda Kingdom also reportedly went missing at Munyonyo. 

“I feel so silenced. Is it your ruling that the people of Mukono should not be heard on this bill?” Nambooze posed during plenary on Tuesday.

Nambooze argued that little time has been accorded to public hearings. And yet, the committee is given up to 45 days according to the Rules of Procedure.

Despite Among’s argument that this work can be accomplished within a much shorter time if the committee is efficient, Nambooze disagreed, saying the joint committees in question were far from that.

Saying it would be imperative that ample time is given to stakeholders, even it means dragging the bill to the twelfth parliament.

“My request is that the 11th Parliament stop behaving as if it is the last Parliament Uganda will ever have. There will be other parliaments that will come after this parliament, Rt. Hon. Speaker. We are also honoured that you will also be in that next parliament,” Nambooze cautioned. 

This rattled Speaker Among who said she can choose not to be part of the incoming house leadership, since she has other things to do. But Nambooze instead sounded blunter.

“You are already there because we have been talking to Mao,” Nambooze fired back.

“How has Mao come here?” Among asked.

Before Kilak North MP Anthony Akol rose on procedure.

“We are discussing a very important bill, and I am wondering how an honourable member is talking about their discussion out of this House. Is it in order to bring the name of somebody on the sovereignty bill that we are discussing,” Akol raised.

Among, in passing, laughed and questioned whether that would make Mao an agent of foreigners.