Politics 1 May 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Activists Warn Sovereignty Bill's Vague Clause Could Stifle Free Speech
Free speech advocates in Uganda criticize Section 13 of the proposed Protection of Sovereignty Bill as overly broad, fearing it could criminalize criticism and enable state abuse. The clause targets economic sabotage through information sharing, with harsh penalties including massive fines or long prison terms. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/magazines/people-power/free-speech-activists-cast-doubts-on-sovereignty-bill-5443774
Free speech activists have raised alarms over the proposed Protection of Sovereignty Bill, particularly Section 13, which they describe as dangerously vague. The provision criminalizes publishing information or engaging in activities that allegedly weaken Uganda’s economy, potentially leading to disruption or instability.
Penalties are severe: legal entities face fines up to Shs4 billion, while individuals risk Shs2 billion fines or 20 years in prison. Lawyer Eron Kiiza, who has challenged similar restrictive laws, called the section ‘too broad and sweeping,’ prone to abuse and stifling critical speech.
This comes shortly after courts struck down the Computer Misuse Amendment Act and criminal defamation laws as unconstitutional. Past rulings, like Justice Kenneth Kakuru’s on vague provisions, emphasized that ambiguous laws violate free expression guarantees.
The bill aims to counter foreign influence by regulating funding for civil society and targeting ‘agents of foreigners.’ Critics like exiled lawyer Isaac Ssemakadde warn it could crush speech, hinder academic freedom, and turn policy criticism into a crime.
Recent convictions of environmental activists under public nuisance laws for protesting the East African Crude Oil Pipeline highlight growing use of such tools against dissent. President Museveni has long labeled opposition actions as ‘economic sabotage.’
Junior Interior Minister Gen David Muhoozi defends the bill as filling legislative gaps against unregulated foreign funding threatening national security.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)