The Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) has urged President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to withhold assent to the Sovereignty Protection Bill, 2026, following its passage by Parliament on May 5, 2026.
In a press statement issued on Wednesday, UPC Head of Media and Communications, Muzeyi Faizo, called upon the President, pursuant to Article 91(3)(b) of the Constitution, to return the Bill to Parliament for further scrutiny, wider consultation, and reconsideration.
Muzeyi argued that Uganda’s sovereignty cannot be protected through restrictive legislation alone, saying true sovereignty is built on strong institutions, economic resilience, constitutional legitimacy, public trust, and the dignity and prosperity of Ugandans.
While acknowledging Uganda’s right to safeguard itself from unlawful external interference, he warned that the current Bill contains broad and ambiguous provisions that could unintentionally criminalize legitimate international engagement, discourage investment and economic cooperation, undermine academic and civil exchange, and create uncertainty within Uganda’s financial and legal sectors.
“At a time when Ugandans are already grappling with rising living costs, unemployment, heavy borrowing burdens, and growing economic pressure, the country must avoid policies that risk weakening investor confidence or increasing isolation from regional and global markets,” he stated.
Muzeyi further expressed concern that several clauses in the Bill may conflict with constitutional principles, including legal certainty, proportionality, freedom of association, freedom of expression, and Uganda’s obligations under international treaties and conventions.
“Laws concerning national sovereignty and security must be clear, narrowly defined, and capable of fair and consistent application. Ambiguity in such legislation risks misuse, selective enforcement, and unnecessary tension within society,” he added.
He noted that President Museveni has previously returned legislation to Parliament for clarification, technical refinement, or broader consultation, citing the Anti-Homosexuality Act (2023), the Minimum Wages Bill (2019), and the NSSF Amendment Bill (2021).
According to UPC, the Sovereignty Protection Bill similarly requires careful reconsideration before receiving presidential assent.
The party also called for a broader national dialogue involving Parliament, political parties, civil society, legal scholars, religious leaders, the business community, and other stakeholders to ensure that any law on Uganda’s sovereignty protects national interests while remaining constitutionally sound and supportive of democratic freedoms and economic stability.
“Uganda must never confuse isolation with independence, nor legislation with strength. Durable sovereignty is secured through national unity, constitutional legitimacy, economic confidence, and strong institutions that command the trust of the people,” Muzeyi remarked.
He reaffirmed UPC’s commitment to defending Uganda’s independence, constitutional order, and national sovereignty, but warned that the Bill, in its current form, risks undermining the very objectives it seeks to protect.
