Government to Present National Sovereignty Bill as Former NGO Funding Proposal Is Folded into New Law

By Peter Luzinda 

 

Kampala :The Government is expected to table the National Sovereignty Bill in Parliament today, with the Minister of Internal Affairs set to introduce it for its first reading, officially launching parliamentary consideration of the proposed law.

Once presented, the Bill will be assigned to the relevant parliamentary committees for detailed review, where lawmakers are expected to examine its provisions clause by clause before it returns to the House for further debate.

The legislation has evolved from earlier policy discussions that initially centred on a separate NGO Funding Bill. That earlier proposal was understood to focus on improving coordination of donor funding, introducing tax incentives for civil society organisations, and creating a structured framework for supporting NGO activities. However, during policy refinement, those funding and tax-related elements were reportedly removed and integrated into a broader National Sovereignty Bill.

The revised Bill is now expected to focus on regulatory oversight of foreign influence, particularly in governance and policy-related sectors, as well as management of externally supported activities within the country. The shift marks a clear change from a funding support framework to a sovereignty and regulation-oriented approach.

Ugandan businessman Nyanzi Martin Luther, commenting on the development, said he remains hopeful about the tabling of the Bill, noting that although the funding aspects were dropped, the remaining focus on reducing foreign dependency still reflects an important national policy direction. He added that strengthening domestic control over external influence is key to ensuring self-determination in development and governance matters.

Parliamentary sources indicate that once the Bill is tabled, it will proceed through the standard legislative stages, including committee scrutiny and further debate by MPs, who are expected to closely assess its definitions, scope, and potential impact on foreign partnerships.

The tabling is expected to attract attention from policymakers, civil society organisations, and development partners, given the potential implications of the proposed law on externally funded programmes and civic engagement in Uganda.