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Foreign Funding or Freedom under threat? The Constitutionality of Funding Caps in Clause 22
The sustainability of civil society depends fundamentally on access to resources. Clause 22 of the Protection of Sovereignty Bill, 2026 threatens this reality by capping foreign funding at 20,000 currency points (equivalent to UGX 400 million per yea
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From Regulation to Control: How Mandatory Registration of “Agents of Foreigners” Threatens Civil Society
Part III (Clauses 14–20) of the Bill does not merely regulate, it creates a powerful system of state control over anyone working with foreign partners or funding. What is presented as a transparency measure quickly becomes a permission-based regime t
Who Defines “National Interest”? The Constitutional Danger of Vague Offences in the Protection of Sovereignty Bill, 2026
A young journalist reports on Uganda’s rising public debt. An economist shares verified inflation data online. In most democracies, these are ordinary acts of public service. Under the Protection of Sovereignty Bill, 2026, these acts could land them
Who Defines “National Interest”? The Constitutional Danger of Vague Offences in the Protection of Sovereignty Bill, 2026
Constitutional scholar Prof Christopher Mbazira was discussing basic principles guiding the administration of justice: lawful arrest, presumption of innocence, the rights of suspects and courts' role in checking state power within the limits of the l
When the Government Claims all of Governance: Clause 6 and the Shrinking Space for Ordinary Ugandans
The Protection of Sovereignty Bill, 2026, especially Clause 6, is raising serious questions about who is truly allowed to help solve Uganda’s problems.
The Death of Independent Policy Engagement? Examining Clause 7 and Citizen Participation in Uganda
Clause 7 of the Protection of Sovereignty Bill, 2026, appears at first glance to be a straightforward attempt to keep government policy where it belongs: in the hands of elected leaders and state institutions. Yet, when read closely, the provision ra
Criminalising Advocacy: How Clause 13 of The Protection of Sovereignty Bill, 2026, Conflates Civic Action with “Economic Sabotage”
Clause 13 of Uganda’s Protection of Sovereignty Bill, 2026, creates the offence of “economic sabotage.” It criminalizes any act or publication that “weakens or damages the economic system or viability of the country” or causes “economic disruption, i
Global norms vs. National law: is Uganda’s Protection of Sovereignty Bill, 2026 consistent with International Human Rights obligations?
The Protection of Sovereignty Bill, 2026, tabled in Parliament, aims to shield Uganda’s political and economic independence by regulating foreign influence. It introduces mandatory registration of “agents of foreigners,” caps foreign funding at app
SURVEILLANCE WITHOUT SAFEGUARDS: CLAUSE 28 AND THE RIGHT TO PRIVACY IN UGANDA
While the goal of protecting national sovereignty is understandable, Clause 28 raises serious concerns. It grants inspectors appointed by the minister sweeping powers to enter premises, demand information, and impose heavy penalties for non-complianc