The Bishop of Rwenzori Diocese, Rev Reuben Kisembo, has advised the Parliament to reconsider and shelve the proposed Protection of Sovereignty Bill, 2026, arguing that it may do more harm than good to the country.
Bishop Kisembo in an interview, expressed concern that once enacted, the Bill could introduce strict controls that may limit the flow of financial and humanitarian support from abroad.
According to him, many Ugandans and several local institutions such as churches, get funds to sustain some church-related projects and support vulnerable communities.
He said that in his opinion, this law is not very good because Ugandans have people and relatives who send money from abroad to support different individuals.
He added that as the Church, they also benefit from resources that come from outside the country.
The Sovereignty Bill, 2026, which is currently under consideration by 11th Parliament, seeks to regulate foreign influence in Uganda by tightening oversight on individuals and entities receiving foreign funding.
The bishop emphasized that Uganda still depends significantly on external support to complement limited domestic resources.
He further cautioned that the Bill, if passed in its current form, could be used to control or suppress certain groups, thereby affecting freedoms and operations of organizations that rely on foreign assistance.
Rev Willy Kintu Muhanga, the Mayor-elect of Fort Portal City described the Bill as “barbaric, inhuman, and ungodly.” .
He questioned the priorities of lawmakers, arguing that Uganda faces more pressing challenges that deserve urgent attention, such as corruption and poor service delivery..
Rev. Muhanga warned that while the term “sovereignty” may sound appealing, the content of the Bill raises serious concerns about its real intentions and impact on ordinary citizens.
He further noted that Uganda, as a developing country, still relies heavily on external support to meet its national budget and development needs.
On Monday, civil society actors in the Tooro sub-region expressed mixed reactions to the Bill with divisions emerging between those calling for its withdrawal to allow wider consultations and those advocating for its passage with significant amendments.
Mr Edward Itoote, the executive director TOORONET, warned that the Bill’s scope goes beyond civil society organizations and could affect a wide range of Ugandans, including professionals and families.
He added that Ugandans living and working abroad could lose key protections.
He said this law could strip people in the diaspora of their inherent citizenship rights and dual citizenship protections adding that families receiving support may face heavy fines or imprisonment for failing to register with the minister.
Local leaders also questioned the timing of the bill, appealing to the government to first stay the bill and wait for the 12th Parlement.
Mr Gerald Twebaze, the Speaker of Kamwenge District, proposed that the Bill be deferred to the 12th Parliament, arguing that it is being rushed through the current legislative cycle where the majority lost an election that they wanted to pass before leaving the House.
He further noted that Uganda is currently grappling with more urgent socio-economic challenges that require immediate attention.
He added that the country already has several laws and policies. We should first implement or amend them instead of introducing another law.
He said Citizenship is a constitutional right, and the state cannot arbitrarily take it away.and yet this Bill gives the minister powers to declare someone a foreigner.
IT IS NOT THE RIGHT TIME, BISHOP KISEMBO ON PROTECTION AND SOVEREIGNTY BILL
