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By Ben Musanje
The Makerere University Academic Staff Association (MUASA) has raised strong concerns over the proposed Protection of Sovereignty Bill, 2026, warning that it could significantly undermine academic freedom, research, and higher education in Uganda.
In a statement issued on X (formerly Twitter), MUASA emphasized that its position is “not political” but grounded in professional and institutional responsibility. The association, which represents academic staff at Makerere University, cautioned that the Bill could make routine academic activities including research collaboration, policy critique, and public discourse legally risky.
“Universities exist to teach, research, question, test ideas, and generate knowledge for society,” the statement read, adding that any law restricting such functions would weaken institutions critical to national problem-solving. “A country that fears its thinkers eventually runs out of solutions.”
The concerns were also formally communicated in a memorandum submitted to the Parliament of Uganda on April 23, 2026, in response to a call for public input on the Bill. MUASA argues that the proposed legislation could criminalize activities such as study abroad, collaborative research, and publication core elements of academic work.
The association further warned that the Bill might deter international funding and partnerships, which are vital to Uganda’s research ecosystem given limited domestic financing. According to MUASA, such outcomes would make the work of universities “impossible” and could have broader consequences for national development.
In its submission, MUASA also questioned the necessity of the Bill, noting that its stated objectives are already addressed under existing laws, including the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act, 2001, as well as oversight bodies like the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology.
The association urged Parliament to abandon the Bill entirely or, at minimum, explicitly exempt university staff and students from its provisions.
MUASA Chairperson Prof. Jude Ssempebwa signed off the memorandum with a call to prioritize the future, underscoring the role of academia in national development.
The proposed legislation has sparked growing debate across Uganda, with various stakeholders expected to present their views before Parliament in the coming weeks. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
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