Statement of Concern Regarding the Enactment of the Protection of Sovereignty Act in Uganda

In a new statement, the New York City Bar Association expressed alarm about the recent passing into law of the Protection of Sovereignty Act (PSA) in Uganda.

The City Bar contends that the law raises grave risks to the fundamental freedoms of association, expression, and public participation protected under regional and international human rights standards. The law’s provisions could be used to stigmatize civil society and risk criminalizing and limiting legitimate civic, development, humanitarian, or rule of law support activities in an environment of increasing restrictions on civic space, as documented by international observers.

The City Bar reaffirms its solidarity with Ugandan civil society and urgently calls on the Ugandan government to pause the implementation of the law and engage in meaningful consultation with all stakeholders, particularly civil society actors, to address government security concerns in a manner that upholds human rights, constitutional principles, and fully complies with international human rights standards.

Summary

The PSA was introduced on April 15, 2026, by the Minister of Internal Affairs and enacted within a month, despite heavy objections from the public and voices within Uganda’s Parliament. Although the final version passed by Parliament has some significant revisions, including eliminating some of the original proposal’s more draconian provisions such as penalties of up to 20 years’ imprisonment, the law is still highly repressive.

The preamble to the Bill states that the purpose of the law is to protect national sovereignty and deter foreign interference in Uganda‘s internal affairs through regulating foreign funding and assistance. It also states that the law is necessary to prevent foreign interference in development programs and policies, foreign funding to civil society that undermines national values, use of online platforms by foreigners and their agents to “disseminate misinformation,” and a perceived inadequate regulation of civil society.”

The PSA lists a number of activities in which “foreign agents” are prohibited from engaging, including “promotion of a foreign policy not adopted by the government through ‘disruptive activities’ or any other means,” “interference with government operations,” and “publishing ‘false’ information (as defined by the Act), likely to cause economic instability in the country.” Violating these prohibitions can result in criminal penalties of up to 10 years’ imprisonment.

Restrictions on Ugandan NGOs

In enacting the PSA, Uganda joins a small but growing group of repressive regimes, including Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Peru, and El Salvador, that have imposed similar laws aimed at stifling citizen activism and accountability, contrary to democratic ideals and human rights standards.

Ugandan NGOs are already subject to extensive regulation under the NGO Act and Regulations, and the government has previously used these powers to suspend and restrict NGOs, particularly those working on human rights and civil and political rights. In 2021, the NGO Bureau, which regulates NGOs, suspended 54 NGOs for administrative complaints.

The statement details how the PSA violates rights enshrined in Uganda’s Constitution, including the rights to civic participation, freedom of assembly, and to demonstrate peacefully and petition, among others. It also violates regional and international law principles including the rights to free association and free expression.

The PSA was passed in the aftermath of Uganda’s national elections in January 2026, during which the government used a similar law to suspend NGOs working on human rights and governance under the guise of undefined “national security” concerns. The PSA will likely be used similarly to further restrict civic space in Uganda.

“The PSA constitutes a grave intrusion into fundamental freedoms in Uganda. It not only violates international law and standards, but also the principles and guarantees enshrined in Uganda’s own Constitution. It seeks to delegitimize civil society by attacking associations and their funding and stripping citizens of the right to participate in democratic processes, development, and governance,” the statement says.

The City Bar urgently calls on the Ugandan government to pause the implementation of the law and engage in meaningful consultation with all stakeholders, particularly civil society actors, to address government security concerns in a manner that upholds human rights, constitutional principles, and fully complies with international human rights standards.

It also calls on international human rights bodies, regional organizations—including the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights—foreign governments, and the international legal community to engage with the Ugandan government to ensure the respect and implementation of international and regional human rights standards in line with applicable guidelines and standards, and to remain vigilant and closely monitor the implementation of this law.

“The City Bar reaffirms its solidarity with Ugandan civil society, including lawyers, journalists, activists, and human rights defenders affected by this law and stands ready to support efforts to defend and safeguard civic space, the rule of law, human rights, and democratic ideals in the country,” the statement concludes.

The City Bar’s African Affairs Committee also signed on to the statement.

Read the full statement here.