The Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC) has rejected the proposed Protection of Sovereignty Bill, 2026, describing it as unconstitutional, redundant, and a threat to civil liberties and economic activity.
UPC spokesperson Sharon Arach said the party had already presented its position before Parliament’s Committees on Defence and Internal Affairs and Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, where it argued that the Bill should be withdrawn entirely.
“UPC holds the view that while the stated goal of safeguarding national sovereignty is legitimate, we contend that this Bill is fundamentally unconstitutional and should be withdrawn without further consideration,” Arach said.
She argued that the legislation does not fill any legal gap, but instead overlaps with existing laws such as the NGO Act, the Anti-Money Laundering Act, and the Political Parties and Organisations Act.
“The Bill does not seek to address any genuine legal lacuna; rather, it creates a redundant and overreaching regime that contradicts the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda,” she said.
UPC further warned that the proposed law risks undermining fundamental rights, business operations, and public service delivery, adding that it should be rejected in its entirety.
The party also criticised government’s handling of the ongoing trade order enforcement in Kampala and other urban areas, saying the exercise has been marked by disruption, destruction of property, and loss of livelihoods.
Arach noted that although the Minister of State for Trade earlier informed Parliament that enforcement had been temporarily suspended for further consultations, the resumption of the exercise had raised concerns over inconsistency in government communication.
“To our dismay, the Minister of Local Government has again announced the resumption of the enforcement of the Trade Order before conducting thorough consultations with stakeholders as earlier on announced,” she said.
UPC drew parallels with past national events, including the 1975 OAU summit and CHOGM, arguing that past enforcement measures had temporarily displaced people but were later reversed after events concluded.
The party said the current enforcement lacks a “human face” and is disrupting a broader economic chain involving traders, transporters, banks, insurers, and warehouse operators.
“Trading cannot take place without banking, insurance, warehousing and transport. These key aids to trade are equally negatively affected by enforcement of the trade order,” Arach said.
UPC has called for renewed dialogue between government, traders, financial institutions, and other stakeholders to develop a more “humane and sustainable” approach to regulation, warning that current actions are directly affecting livelihoods.