Practical Guide on Uganda’s Protection of Sovereignty Act, 2026
Published June 2026
The adoption of the Protection of Sovereignty Act, 2026 followed a fast-tracked legislative process in Parliament with limited opportunity for public consultation. The stated aim of the Act is to protect the sovereignty of the people of Uganda, to provide for the registration and regulation of agents of foreigners, and to regulate the funding and any other assistance to agents of foreigners.
The Act emerges in a broader context of increasing regulation affecting civil society organizations (CSOs) in Uganda. In recent years, anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing measures, the Computer Misuse Act, and the Non Governmental Organisations Act have been used to suspend independent organizations, restrict speech, freeze CSO bank accounts, impose extensive disclosure requirements, and restrict activities of CSOs during elections. Against this backdrop, the Protection of Sovereignty Act is an additional law that may further affect civic space.
This practical guide is intended to help CSOs, donors, partners, journalists, researchers, and other stakeholders understand the key provisions of the Act and their potential implications. It provides a plain-language overview of the law, explains its main requirements, and highlights issues that organizations may wish to monitor as implementation unfolds. Click below to download the PDF.
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