Uganda's Parliament Passes Sovereignty Bill After Contentious Debate

President Museveni applauded Members of Parliament for passing the Protection of Sovereignty Bill, 2026, which the 11th Parliament approved after contentious clauses were amended ahead of the decisive Tuesday sitting. The bill generated widespread debate and opposition before its passage. It now awaits presidential assent to become law.

A statement was released on Wednesday evening via President Museveni's official social media accounts. In that statement, Museveni congratulated National Resistance Movement (NRM) Members of Parliament for passing the Sovereignty Bill. "Fellow Ugandans, especially the Bazzukulu.

This is to congratulate the NRM MPs for passing the Sovereignty Bill which simply means 'mutuleke tukole ebyaffe ngamwe bwemukola ebyamwe wataliwo okubayingilila' (let us do our things by ourselves just as you do your own things without anybody interfering with you)," Museveni said.

He added: "How shameful and disgusting to see people arguing otherwise!! " Museveni cited that the Israelis led by one Barak and the British supported Idi Amin's coup in 1971 because Obote was vocal in opposing their policy on Rhodesia (Zimbabwe).

Museveni said that Edward Heath, the British Prime Minister, recognized Amin after only 10 days. Museveni described sovereignty as Uganda's exclusive right to make policy decisions without external manipulation, covering areas such as political governance, economic policy and diplomatic alignment.

He stated that the legislation does not interfere with Uganda's free-market system or the movement of capital, including foreign direct investment, diaspora remittances and private sector operations.

"Independence means the right to make our own mistakes if necessary and learn from them," Museveni said, quoting former Tanzanian leader Mwalimu Julius Nyerere. " Museveni stated that external actors should not finance groups aimed at influencing Uganda's internal decisions. AllAfrica reported that the bill was passed by the 11th Parliament after generating widespread debate and opposition.

The article was published on 6 May 2026.