Buganda Kingdom has warned that the proposed Protection of Sovereignty Bill, 2026 could have far-reaching implications on cultural institutions, civil liberties, and development partnerships if passed in its current form.
In a formal submission dated April 13 to the Attorney General, the Kingdom—through the office of the Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga—urged government to reconsider and refine key provisions of the Bill before it proceeds further in Parliament.
“I write to respectfully submit the Kingdom of Buganda's detailed concerns, observations and recommendations… for your urgent consideration, before the Bill proceeds to its further stages in Parliament,” the letter states.
The Kingdom emphasised that its position is not politically motivated but aimed at safeguarding constitutional order and national interests.
“For avoidance of any doubt, I emphasize that these submissions are not partisan politics in nature and are not made in opposition to the Government of the Republic of Uganda,” the letter adds.
At the centre of Buganda’s concerns is the Bill’s broad definition of a “foreigner” and “agent of a foreigner,” which it says could inadvertently target Ugandans in the diaspora and institutions receiving international support.
“To label such contributions as ‘foreign funding’ and to designate family members back home as ‘agents of foreigners’ is a profound injustice,” the Kingdom noted.
The submission warns that such provisions could extend to cultural institutions like Buganda itself, given its partnerships with international organisations supporting programmes in health, education, agriculture and heritage preservation.
The Kingdom also raised concerns about provisions governing public engagement, arguing they could criminalise legitimate advocacy.
Buganda noted that its longstanding role in speaking on issues such as land rights, health and education could be interpreted as unlawful influence if any foreign funding is involved.
On economic provisions, the Kingdom criticised Clause 13 on “economic sabotage,” saying it lacks clarity and could suppress free expression.
“We believe this clause, in its current state, is inconsistent with Article 29(1)(a) of the 1995 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression… and Article 38, which guarantees the right of every citizen to participate in peaceful activities to influence the policies of Government,” the submission reads.
The Kingdom further warned that heavy penalties—including long prison sentences, multi-billion shilling fines and asset forfeiture—could have a chilling effect on civic participation and development work.
It also took issue with proposed financial thresholds, including a cap on foreign funding without ministerial approval, describing the requirements as impractical for institutions running large-scale community programmes.
Buganda cautioned that provisions allowing the State to confiscate funds linked to such programmes could undermine socio-economic development efforts and violate constitutional protections.
“Our wish is to assist your good office and Parliament in refining this legislation so that it truly serves its stated object of protecting Uganda's sovereignty, without inadvertently harming the Kingdom's constitutional mandate and the welfare of all Ugandans,” the submission concludes.
The intervention adds to growing scrutiny of the Bill, which seeks to regulate foreign influence in Uganda’s political, economic and digital spheres, but has drawn criticism from religious leaders, civil society organisations and opposition figures.
Parliament is expected to resume debate on the Bill in the coming days as stakeholder submissions continue to shape one of the country’s most contested legislative proposals.
