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By Spy Uganda
Attempts by the government to soften the controversial Protection of Sovereignty Bill, 2026 have failed to ease parliamentary concerns, as lawmakers across the political divide pushed back against proposed amendments tabled by Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka.
Appearing before Parliament’s Joint Committees on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and Defence and Internal Affairs on April 30, Kiwanuka presented a revised version of the Bill, describing it as a response to widespread public criticism and stakeholder concerns.
The proposed changes seek to shield critical sectors including financial institutions, health facilities, academic and research bodies, and faith-based organisations from restrictions on foreign funding. Under the amendments, such entities would be exempt so long as the funds support lawful and regulated activities.
Kiwanuka also clarified that legitimate foreign inflows such as foreign direct investment, diaspora remittances, trade finance, grants, and humanitarian assistance would not be affected. The move is widely seen as an effort to reassure investors and development partners who had raised alarm over the Bill’s potential economic impact.
However, despite these concessions, legislators remained unconvinced.
Several MPs argued that the revised Bill still poses a significant threat to Uganda’s democratic space, particularly due to its expanded focus on political activities influenced by foreign actors. The amendments define such activities broadly to include campaign financing, support to political parties, and efforts to influence legislation, public policy, or electoral outcomes.
“This risks criminalising the very essence of democratic engagement,” said Asuman Basalirwa, warning that the law could stifle legitimate political participation.
Concerns were further raised over the Bill’s punitive provisions, which include fines of up to UGX 4 billion and prison sentences of up to 20 years. Lawmakers noted that the amendments did little to address these penalties or clarify key terms such as economic sabotage and national interest.
In an effort to respond to earlier criticism, the Attorney General proposed refining the definition of economic sabotage to require proof of intent. Under the revised clause, liability would arise only where an individual, acting on behalf of a foreign entity, knowingly spreads false information or engages in actions aimed at destabilising the economy.
Kiwanuka argued that introducing this element of intent would reduce the risk of arbitrary enforcement. But some MPs questioned whether the changes go far enough.
Jonathan Odur raised concerns about the level of consultation behind both the original Bill and the amendments, noting that key institutions such as the central bank and the national human rights body had previously expressed reservations.
“It appears there was no adequate consultation, even within government,” Odur said, calling for clarity on whether these institutions had been re-engaged.
Legal ambiguity also emerged as a sticking point, with Bosco Okiror warning that provisions on economic sabotage could prove difficult to interpret and enforce in court.
Meanwhile, Betty Nambooze called for fresh public hearings, arguing that the scale of the proposed changes warrants broader stakeholder input.
“These are significant amendments. It would be proper to reopen consultations,” she said.
In another shift, the government proposed narrowing the definition of a foreigner to apply only to individuals or entities directly involved in funding or directing political activities. It also backed the removal of a contentious clause that would have allowed the Minister of Internal Affairs to unilaterally designate individuals as foreigners.
While the amendments signal a partial climbdown by the government, the response in Parliament suggests that the Bill’s path to passage remains uncertain, with lawmakers demanding deeper revisions to safeguard democratic freedoms and legal clarity.
, https://www.spyuganda.com/u-turn-govt-softens-sovereignty-bill-but-mps-raise-alarm-over-threat-to-democracy/
