Republican Women and Youth Party urges Protection of Sovereignty Bill revision

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Several non-governmental organisations say they are opposed to the passing of the Protection of Sovereignty Bill, 2026.

The controversial Bill, which is set to be debated during plenary on Tuesday, May 5, 2025, has placed its framers in the crossfire of various entities, including the central bank, academics and legislators.

During an interview with New Vision online, Republican Women and Youth Party president Stella Birah Nambuya said the Bill, which aims at restricting foreign influence, and in its current form, if not changed, poses significant risks to Uganda's market economy, including potential credit freezes, disruption of investment and diaspora remittances.

She said while sovereignty is a valid Goal, the challenges are that the Bill's restrictions on control of foreign funding clash rather than supporting the liberalised economic environment.

"The two twin pillars of Western Civilisation, the Market economy and Democracy, are clashing and supporting one another, the reason and need for the State Protection of Sovereignty. In this case, does the pursuit or attainment of the Protection of Sovereignty Bill 2026 bring about or intensify Nationalism? Does the Bill seek to foster self-reliance by curbing foreign influence in local politics, civil society, and finance, much as it may trigger economic instability and stifle development for self-reliance?" Nambuya questioned.

However, it should be noted that 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.

She added that the Republican Women and Youth Party ( RWYP) supports curbing reliance on foreign funding for NGOs whose political allegiance is unknown, but can monitor, observe and influence political activities.

Committee concerns

The women and youth party leaders' concerns are in tandem with those of the Parliament’s joint committee, which has raised major concerns about the Bill, warning that its current form could affect the economy, civil society and key national institutions.

The House committee on defence and internal affairs and the committee on legal and parliamentary affairs reviewed the Bill after consulting more than 200 stakeholders, including government agencies, civil society groups, financial institutions, and the diaspora.

The report has been signed by several members of the committee whose sessions were chaired by Wilson Kajwengye and Stephen Baka Mugabi.

The report that has been widely shared today, May 5, 2026, ahead of Parliament, says that while the Bill seeks to protect Uganda from foreign interference, several of its provisions are too broad and unclear.

Lawmakers found that definitions of “foreigner” and “agent of a foreigner” could extend to ordinary activities such as business transactions, research partnerships, and diaspora support. The Bill is listed on the Order Paper for consideration during this afternoon’s parliamentary sitting.