Uganda’s parliament passed a contentious sovereignty bill Tuesday, sharpening political tensions as critics warned it echoes foreign agent laws used to silence dissent.
Lawmakers approved the amended legislation after a heated debate, framing it as a defence of national interests against perceived external influence.
The bill criminalises actions deemed to promote foreign interests over Uganda’s, labelling recipients of overseas funding as “agents of foreigners.”
Convictions under the law carry penalties of up to 20 years in prison, raising concerns about its potential reach.
President Yoweri Museveni, in power for four decades, backed revisions to protect capital flows while endorsing limits on foreign-linked political activity.
The amended text excludes supervised institutions, medical facilities, faith groups, and academic bodies conducting activities permitted under Ugandan law.
Parliament removed a clause defining Ugandans abroad as foreigners, a change seen as softening one of the bill’s most criticised elements.
Supporters hailed the law as a milestone, arguing it safeguards sovereignty without undue external interference in domestic political affairs.
Opposition figures warned it creates a punitive framework that could damage the economy and further restrict political freedoms.
Rights groups cautioned the legislation mirrors laws in other countries where vague language enables authorities to target critics and civil society.
Uganda’s political climate has tightened in recent years, with opposition voices facing pressure and restrictions during contested electoral periods.
Museveni, aged 81, secured re-election in January amid an internet shutdown and allegations of repression that forced rival Bobi Wine into hiding.
As the bill awaits further steps to become law, its passage signals a deepening divide over governance and freedoms in Uganda.
