An Act to provide for the protection of the sovereignty of the
people of Uganda; to designate the Department responsible for
peace and security in the Ministry responsible for internal affairs
as the Department responsible for the implementation of this
Act; to provide for the registration and regulation of agents of
foreigners; to regulate the funding and any other assistance to
agents of foreigners and for related matters.

THE PROTECTION OF SOVEREIGNTY ACT, 2026

The Protection of Sovereignty Act, 2026 (Cap 7) is a Ugandan law designed to safeguard the country's sovereignty from foreign interference. It applies to agents of foreigners who engage in political or disruptive activities within Uganda, including representatives of embassies and consulates (subject to diplomatic privileges). The Act sets out strict rules on registration, funding declarations, and prohibited activities, with severe penalties for non-compliance.

<h3>Key Definitions</h3>
Important terms defined in Section 1 include:
<ul>
<li>Agent of a foreigner – any person acting on behalf of a foreign entity in Uganda.</li>
<li>Disruptive activities – actions that undermine public order or government functions.</li>
<li>Foreign policy – the external policy of a foreign state.</li>
<li>Foreigner – a person who is not a Ugandan citizen, or an entity not incorporated in Uganda.</li>
<li>Interest of Uganda – the collective well‑being, security, and prosperity of the people of Uganda.</li>
<li>Political activities – actions aimed at influencing government decisions, policies, or electoral processes.</li>
</ul>

<h3>Who the Act Applies To</h3>
The Act applies to any agent of a foreigner who engages in political activities to further foreign interests, including through digital platforms. It also covers representatives of embassies, high commissions, and consulates, while respecting their diplomatic privileges. However, the Act does not apply to:
<ul>
<li>Money or funding from a foreigner for regulated financial institutions, health facilities, academic research, commercial or domestic use, or faith‑based mission activities.</li>
<li>Lawful foreign direct investment, portfolio investment, diaspora remittances, trade finance, humanitarian assistance, and similar lawful inflows or outflows.</li>
</ul>

<h3>Administration of the Act</h3>
The Minister (responsible for internal affairs) provides policy guidance. The Department for Peace and Security under the Ministry of Internal Affairs handles day‑to‑day implementation. The Department must consult with other bodies such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Its functions include reviewing registration applications, conducting due diligence, inspecting activities, and advising revenue and immigration authorities.

<h3>Registration of Foreign Agents</h3>
No person may act as an agent of a foreigner without being registered and holding a valid certificate from the Minister. Key steps and rights:
<ul>
<li>Application: You must submit personal details, business and residential addresses, information about the foreigner you represent, copies of agreements, and a statement of your activities (including any political activities).</li>
<li>Processing: The Department conducts inquiries within 14 days to assess your suitability (identity, criminal record, solvency, etc.). The Minister decides within 14 days after receiving the Department’s recommendation.</li>
<li>Certificate: Issued for two years and may include specific conditions.</li>
<li>Refusal: If refused, you have the right to receive written reasons within 14 days and may apply to a court for redress.</li>
<li>Renewal: Apply at least three months before expiry. You must show compliance with the certificate’s terms. The Minister must decide within 14 days, following natural justice.</li>
<li>Suspension or Revocation: The Minister may suspend or revoke your certificate only on grounds such as false information, non‑compliance, committing an offence, insolvency, or security threats. You are entitled to a fair hearing.</li>
</ul>

<h3>Prohibited Activities and Offences</h3>
The Act creates several criminal offences to protect Uganda’s sovereignty:
<ul>
<li>Promoting unadopted foreign policy (Section 10): An agent of a foreigner cannot engage in disruptive activities or solicit assistance to promote a foreign policy not approved by Cabinet. Penalty: legal entity – fine up to 100,000 currency points; individual – fine up to 50,000 or imprisonment up to 10 years (or both).</li>
<li>Foreign interference in elections (Section 11): Intentionally influencing electoral choices is an offence. Exemption for nominated Electoral Commission representatives.</li>
<li>Interfering with government operations (Section 12): Organising meetings or activities that obstruct, impair, or hinder a public officer is prohibited.</li>
<li>Economic sabotage (Section 13): Publishing false information or participating in disruptive acts that weaken Uganda’s economic system is an offence.</li>
<li>Performing reserved government functions (Section 6): Only the Government or its approved agents may perform functions listed in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. Foreign agents need explicit approval from the relevant agency and Cabinet, unless they hold a valid licence from a regulatory body.</li>
<li>Developing policy without Cabinet approval (Section 7): An agent who knowingly develops and implements Government policy without Cabinet approval commits an offence.</li>
<li>Hindering policy implementation (Section 8): Foreign agents cannot hinder, frustrate, or disrupt policy implementation. Prior approval from the relevant ministry and a formal undertaking are required.</li>
</ul>

<h3>Funding Declarations and Restrictions</h3>
To ensure transparency and prevent illicit financing:
<ul>
<li>Declare all funding sources (Section 21): Agents must declare the source of their funding to the Minister. A false or misleading declaration carries a fine of up to 70 currency points (approx. UGX 1.4 million) or imprisonment up to 5 years (or both).</li>
<li>Declare foreign funding over 20,000 currency points (Section 22): Financial support exceeding that amount in 12 months must be declared. Failure is an offence – legal entity: fine up to 100,000 currency points; individual: fine up to 50,000 or imprisonment up to 10 years. The money is forfeited to the State.</li>
<li>Funding for disruptive activities (Section 23): Soliciting or accepting funds intended to overthrow the government or engage in disruptive activities is an offence. Directors of legal entities also face liability.</li>
<li>Foreign funding to government bodies (Section 24): Such funding automatically becomes public funds and must be managed under the Public Finance Management Act.</li>
<li>Reporting by supervised institutions (Section 25): Before paying money to a foreign agent, an institution must ensure the agent has declared the source. Monthly reports to regulators are mandatory. Non‑compliance is an offence with a fine up to 200,000 currency points.</li>
<li>Submission of returns (Section 26): Agents must submit returns to the Minister detailing funds received and how they were used.</li>
</ul>

<h3>Inspection and Enforcement</h3>
Inspections of foreign agents can only be carried out under a court order. You must not obstruct the inspector, provide false documents, or refuse to comply. Penalty: fine up to 2,000 currency points or imprisonment up to 7 years (or both). All government ministries and agencies must cooperate fully with the Minister and Department to ensure the Act is implemented effectively.

<h3>Penalties at a Glance</h3>
<ul>
<li>Legal entities (companies, NGOs, etc.): Fines up to 100,000 or 200,000 currency points depending on the offence.</li>
<li>Individuals: Fines up to 50,000 currency points, imprisonment up to 10 years, or both.</li>
<li>Special offences: False declaration – up to 5 years; obstruction of inspection – up to 7 years.</li>
<li>A currency point is defined in the laws of Uganda – currently 1 currency point = UGX 20,000 (subject to change).</li>
</ul>

<h3>Your Rights and Duties</h3>
Every Ugandan has a duty to promote the sovereignty of the people. The Act reinforces that government actions must prioritise Uganda’s interests. If you are an agent of a foreigner, you have the right to a fair process in registration, renewal, and any suspension or revocation. You also have the right to challenge adverse decisions in court. The Minister may issue regulations to implement the Act, and these must be laid before Parliament.

For specific legal advice, consult a qualified lawyer or the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

You must comply with this Act if you are an agent of a foreigner and engage in political activities in Uganda, including using digital platforms. This applies to activities like furthering a foreigner's political interests, handling money for political purposes, representing a foreigner before government officials, recruiting others, or acting as an agent against Ugandan interests. Influencing government policy without Cabinet approval or opposing government policy also triggers compliance. Diplomatic representatives from embassies or consulates must comply, though their privileges are protected by separate law. The Act does not apply to regulated institutions, health facilities, academic or research institutions, personal or family use, or faith-based organizations for their mission. Lawful foreign investments, remittances, trade, humanitarian aid, and other legal financial flows are also exempt.

This section defines who must comply—agents of foreigners in political activities—and lists exemptions for diplomats, regulated institutions, health, education, and lawful investments.

Section 2: Who Must Comply with This Act?

This Act applies to an agent of a foreigner.

engage in political activities in Uganda to further the
interest of a foreigner;

solicit, collect, disburse or dispense contributions, loans,
money or other things of value for the purpose of financing
or sponsoring political activities to further the interest of a
foreigner;

 represent the interest of a foreigner before any agency or
official of the Government of Uganda for the purpose of
engaging in political activities in Uganda;

 recruit, contract, engage, enter into a partnership or
sponsor any person in Uganda to promote the interest of a foreigner for the purpose of engaging in political activities
in Uganda;

 agree, consent, assume or purport to act as an agent of a
foreigner or who is or holds himself or herself out as an
agent of a foreigner, to promote the interest of a foreigner
against the interest of Ugandans;

 influence the development of a policy of Government or
implement a policy of Government without the approval
of Cabinet; or

influence the public to oppose a policy of Government.

 For the avoidance of doubt, this Act applies to an agent of
a foreigner who engages in any of the following activities through any
means, including the use of digital platforms to—

 Subject to the Diplomatic Privileges Act, this Act applies
to a representative or agent of an embassy, high commission or
consulate

a supervised institution, a person or an institution regulated
by a regulatory body under an Act of Parliament, for the
purposes of meeting its regulatory requirements or for
the purposes of undertaking its commercial, licensed or
permitted activity under an Act of Parliament;

 a health or medical facility, for the purposes of performing
an activity permitted under the laws of Uganda to be
undertaken by a health or medical facility;

 an academic orresearch institution,for purposes offunding
research and innovation or any other educational activity
permitted under the laws of Uganda to be undertaken by
an academic or research institution;

 a person, for commercial, domestic or family use; or

 a faith-based organisation, for activities that are connected
with the mission of the faith-based organisation.

 For the avoidance of doubt and notwithstanding this
section, this Act shall not apply to monies or funding received from a
foreigner by—

Nothing in this Act shall be construed as requiring
compliance with this Act for lawful foreign direct investment, portfolio
investment, diaspora remittances, export proceeds, trade finance,
commercial loans, humanitarian assistance, technical assistance,
grants, concessional financing, development assistance, or any other
lawful foreign exchange inflow or outflow, and related activities.

 Application

The Minister responsible for this Act gives policy guidance on how the Act should be implemented. The Department in charge of peace and security within the Ministry of Internal Affairs is the main body that carries out the Act's provisions. While implementing the Act, that Department must consult with other government agencies, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the ministry that develops government policy. This ensures coordination across different parts of the government.

The Minister gives policy guidance; the Department for peace and security implements the Act and must consult other government agencies.

Section 3: Who Administers the Protection of Sovereignty Act?

 This Act shall be administered by the Minister, who shall
give policy guidance on the implementation of this Act.

 The Department responsible for peace and security in the
Ministry responsible for internal affairs shall be responsible for the
implementation of this Act.

 The Department shall, in the implementation of this
Act, consult other agencies of Government, including the Ministry
responsible for foreign affairs and the relevant Ministry responsible
for developing the Government policy.

Administration of Act

The Department is responsible for reviewing and processing applications from people who want to become agents of foreigners. It recommends to the Minister whether to issue certificates of registration. It creates and enforces rules for registering and regulating these agents. The Department also checks the background of applicants to ensure they are suitable before registration. It inspects and approves the activities of agents of foreigners operating in Uganda. Additionally, the Department advises the Minister on regulations needed to implement the law, and coordinates with revenue, customs, airport, railway, and immigration authorities regarding foreign funding or assistance. The Department may also carry out any other tasks the Minister assigns.

The Department reviews applications, recommends registration, enforces guidelines, conducts due diligence, inspects activities, and advises the Minister on agents of foreigners.

Section 4: Functions of the Department for Agents of Foreigners

 review and consider applications for registration of agents
of foreigners;

recommend to the Minister, the issuance of certificates of
registration to persons applying to be registered as agents
of foreigners;

develop and enforce guidelines on the registration and
regulation of agents of foreigners;

carry out due diligence to determine the suitability of
agents of foreigners before registration under this Act;

inspect and approve activities of agents of foreigners in
Uganda;

advise the Minister on the making of regulations necessary
for the better implementation of this Act;

 advise revenue, customs, airport, railway and immigration
authorities on foreign funding or any other assistance from
foreigners to agents of foreigners; and

 perform any other function as the Minister may assign to
the Department.

The Department may, in discharging its functions, co-opt
persons to advise the Department on any matter relating to agents of
foreigners.

A person co-opted under subsection (2) shall not be a
member of the Department.

Functions of Department

You have the right to control the social, economic, and political policies that affect Uganda. You must actively promote the sovereignty of the people. The government must act in the interests of Uganda. Foreign agents cannot put foreign interests above Uganda's. Violating this law leads to heavy fines or imprisonment. Companies face up to 2 billion shillings, individuals up to 1 billion shillings or 10 years in jail.

Section 5: Ugandans have sovereignty over governance. Must promote national interests. Foreign agents face fines up to 2 billion UGX or 10 years imprisonment.

Section 5: Sovereignty of the People – Rights and Obligations

 In accordance with Article 1 of the Constitution, the
people of the Republic of Uganda shall have sovereignty over the
social, economic and political policies affecting the governance of the
Republic of Uganda.

Every Ugandan shall be under an obligation to promote
the sovereignty of the people of Uganda and all the activities of the
Government shall be conducted in such a manner that promotes the
interests of Uganda.

 An agent of a foreignershall not engage in any activity that
promotes the interest of a foreigner against the interests of Uganda.

 in the case of a legal entity, to a fine not exceeding one
hundred thousand currency points; and

 in the case of an individual, to a fine not exceeding fifty
thousand currency points or imprisonment for a term not
exceeding ten years, or both.

An agent of a foreigner who knowingly promotes the
interest of a foreigner against the interests of Uganda commits an
offence and is liable, on conviction—

Sovereignty of the people

You must obtain approval from the relevant government agency and Cabinet before performing any functions listed in the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution. If you are an agent of a foreigner and knowingly provide such services without approval, you commit an offence. A legal entity faces a fine of up to 2 billion shillings, while an individual faces a fine of up to 1 billion shillings or imprisonment for up to 10 years, or both. However, this does not apply if you already hold a licence or permit from a government regulatory body. The Minister may set regulations for the approval process.

Foreign agents need government approval to perform functions; penalties up to 2 billion shillings or 10 years; exemptions for licenses; Minister sets procedures.

Section 6: Approval needed for foreign agents performing government functions

 The functions and services specified in the Sixth Schedule
to the Constitution shall be the responsibility of the Government in
accordance with Article 189 of the Constitution.

An agent of a foreigner shall not exercise any of the
functions specified in the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution, except
with the approval of the relevant Government agency assigned the
mandate to exercise such functions.

The relevant Government agency referred to in subsection
(2) shall not approve an agent of a foreigner to exercise its mandate
without the approval of Cabinet.

in the case of a legal entity, to a fine not exceeding one
hundred thousand currency points; and

in the case of an individual, to a fine not exceeding fifty
thousand currency points or imprisonment for a term not
exceeding ten years, or both.

An agent of a foreigner who knowingly performs the
functions or offers services for which the Government is responsible
without the approval of the relevant Government agency, commits an
offence and is liable, on conviction—

 This section shall not apply to an agent of a foreigner
who has been granted a licence, permit or other authorisation from a
Government licensing or regulatory body to offer services for which
the Government is responsible.

The Minister may, by regulations, prescribe the procedure
and requirements for obtaining the approval referred to under this
section.

Exercise of functions and services for which Government is responsible