news 14 May 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Uganda Law Society launches Shs2.3b fund to defend constitution
The Uganda Law Society (ULS) has initiated a fundraising campaign targeting over Shs2.3 billion for a Sovereignty Defence Fund. This fund is intended to support the protection of the Constitution through public awareness, legal action, and collaboration with civic groups. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/uganda-law-society-launches-shs2-3b-sovereignty-defence-fund-5460050
The Uganda Law Society (ULS) has officially launched a significant fundraising drive for a Sovereignty Defence Fund, aiming to amass over Shs2.3 billion. The primary objective of this fund is to underpin the lawful and professional defence of Uganda’s Constitution.
According to ULS Vice President Anthony Asiimwe, the fund will facilitate public awareness campaigns, enable legal interventions, and foster coordination with various civic organizations both domestically and internationally. “The reason we are doing this, you realize, in most cases, all the laws that are passed, the members of the public are never educated, they are never aware. Yet this is the role of government,” Mr. Asiimwe stated.
The initiative seeks to consolidate legal, civic, and economic perspectives in response to recent legislative developments, particularly the Sovereignty Bill. “This is really aimed at uniting legal, civic and economic voices inside Uganda and across the world to align before and after the assent,” he explained, noting a shift in focus to tangible actions now that the bill has been assented to.
Significant allocations are planned from the fund, with approximately Shs266 million earmarked for public education across various media platforms and national dialogues. Another Shs550 million will be dedicated to building coalitions and engaging with the diaspora. The largest portion, exceeding Shs1.22 billion, is designated for litigation and assisting victims through constitutional petitions and international legal processes.
Furthermore, Shs400 million will establish a Legal Aid Fund to provide immediate support to journalists, CSO leaders, editors, and their families who may face prosecution under the new Act. High-level advocacy efforts targeting governmental bodies and diplomatic missions will receive Shs78 million.
Acting ULS Secretary General Babu Ssali emphasized that the fund is not a form of charity but a crucial investment in national sovereignty. “This is not money that is going to go to the coffers of the Uganda Law Society and simply sit there to aid our daily running of activities, but rather one that is going to be used in defence of the sovereignty of the Republic of Uganda,” Ssali remarked, urging public support in line with the ULS mandate.