Legal expert Timothy Mbalinda Mucunguzi has called for calm and strict adherence to the law as debate intensifies over the proposed National Sovereignty Bill, emphasizing that organizations operating within the country have nothing to fear as long as they remain compliant with existing legal frameworks.
Speaking to Canary Mugume during Next Big Talk hosted by Next Radio on Tuesday, Mucunguzi highlighted the significant financial footprint of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Uganda's economy, underscoring the government's interest in strengthening oversight mechanisms.
"NGOs bring in about Shs 4.5 trillion in an economy that is under Shs 100 trillion; this is a lot of money. When the government says we need to look at that money and how it is being spent, beyond the issue of foreigners, some of these laws come in for accountability," he said.
Mucunguzi remarks come at a time of heightened national discourse surrounding the proposed Protection of Sovereignty Bill, 2025--also referred to as the National Sovereignty Bill, 2026--a sweeping legislative initiative aimed at regulating foreign influence and reinforcing Uganda's autonomy across political, economic, and social sectors.
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Mucunguzi sought to reassure stakeholders, particularly civil society organizations (CSOs) and NGOs, that the proposed law should not trigger alarm among law-abiding entities.
"There is absolutely no need for any panic or worry. How should you prepare for the National Sovereignty Bill? In one word: accountability--and follow the law," he said.
However, Mucunguzi issued a stern warning to organizations that may be operating outside legal and policy frameworks.
"If you know that whatever you have been doing is against the law and national policy, you had better run because the law is out to get you if you are hiding behind CSOs and NGOs and going against what Uganda stands for," he said.
The proposed legislation has gained strong backing from the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) Parliamentary Caucus, which recently adopted the government's proposal to formally table the bill in Parliament.
Supporters argue that the measure is essential to safeguarding Uganda's sovereignty and ensuring that national decision-making processes are not compromised by external interests.
Central to the bill are provisions requiring organizations to declare foreign funding within 14 days of receipt, as well as expanded powers for the Minister of Internal Affairs to monitor and regulate such inflows.
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Government Chief Whip Hamson Obua defended the proposal framing it as consistent with global practices.
"We were colonized by the British; the UK had similar legislation. So, we are not reinventing the wheel. The proposed bill seeks to regulate foreign financial inflows--those inflows coming into Uganda must be for legitimate reasons and not harmful reasons," he said during a press briefing at State House Entebbe on Friday.
Mucunguzi added that the legislation is intended to fully operationalize constitutional principles, particularly Article 1 of the Constitution, which vests power in the people.
"We want sovereignty 100% and we want to secure that through this law," Mucunguzi said.
Despite government assurances, the bill has drawn criticism from civil society actors and policy analysts, who argue that it closely resembles earlier regulatory efforts targeting NGOs--particularly in relation to foreign funding and state oversight.
Critics contend that while the bill's framing has evolved, its core objectives remain largely unchanged, raising concerns about increased ministerial authority and potential constraints on civic space. Analysts have pointed to similarities between past NGO regulatory proposals and the current bill, including strict disclosure timelines and expanded government scrutiny.
