Uganda copying Russia and China with new bill designed to crush dissent, say critics

Ugandan opposition figures, human rights organisations and legal experts have condemned a sweeping bill that proposes up to 20 years in prison for promoting “foreign interests”, and imposes restrictions on a broad range of people and organisations that work with or receive funding from overseas partners. The protection of sovereignty bill 2026 is being fast tracked through parliament, with debate expected to conclude before the presidential swearing-in on 12 May. Internal affairs state minister Gen David Muhoozi told a parliamentary committee on 23 April that the bill would strengthen safeguards against foreign influence that could destabilise national security, economic stability and social cohesion. But critics have said that, like similar foreign agent laws brought in by other authoritarian governments, the proposed legislation is designed to restrict civil society, media and dissent by cutting off funding that supports activities such as legitimate political opposition and holding the government to account. “This law is a copy and paste of Russian and Chinese laws adopted to liquidate opposition and civil society organisations,” said Joel Ssenyonyi, Uganda’s leader of the opposition . “Passing this bill will not protect Uganda’s sovereignty, it will kill multiparty funding, plunge thousands more Ugandans into absolute poverty, chase away foreign investment, and turn our country into an international pariah. Clearly this bill is intending to stifle dissent,” he said. …