THE PROTECTION OF SOVEREIGNTY ACT, 2026
Cap 7 | Last Updated: 22nd May, 2026
2. Application
(1)This Act applies to an agent of a foreigner.
(2) 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—
(a)engage in political activities in Uganda to further the interest of a foreigner;
(b)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;
(c) 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;
(d) 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;
(e) 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;
(f) influence the development of a policy of Government or implement a policy of Government without the approval of Cabinet; or
(g)influence the public to oppose a policy of Government.
(3) Subject to the Diplomatic Privileges Act, this Act applies to a representative or agent of an embassy, high commission or consulate
(4) For the avoidance of doubt and notwithstanding this section, this Act shall not apply to monies or funding received from a foreigner by—
(a)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;
(b) 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;
(c) 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;
(d) a person, for commercial, domestic or family use; or
(e) a faith-based organisation, for activities that are connected with the mission of the faith-based organisation.
(5)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.
3.Administration of Act
(1) This Act shall be administered by the Minister, who shall give policy guidance on the implementation of this Act.
(2) The Department responsible for peace and security in the Ministry responsible for internal affairs shall be responsible for the implementation of this Act.
(3) 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.
4.Functions of Department
(1)The Department shall—
(a) review and consider applications for registration of agents of foreigners;
(b)recommend to the Minister, the issuance of certificates of registration to persons applying to be registered as agents of foreigners;
(c)develop and enforce guidelines on the registration and regulation of agents of foreigners;
(d)carry out due diligence to determine the suitability of agents of foreigners before registration under this Act;
(e)inspect and approve activities of agents of foreigners in Uganda;
(f)advise the Minister on the making of regulations necessary for the better implementation of this Act;
(g) advise revenue, customs, airport, railway and immigration authorities on foreign funding or any other assistance from foreigners to agents of foreigners; and
(h) perform any other function as the Minister may assign to the Department.
(2)The Department may, in discharging its functions, co-opt persons to advise the Department on any matter relating to agents of foreigners.
(3)A person co-opted under subsection (2) shall not be a member of the Department.
5.Sovereignty of the people
(1) 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.
(2)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.
(3) An agent of a foreignershall not engage in any activity that promotes the interest of a foreigner against the interests of Uganda.
(4)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—
(a) in the case of a legal entity, to a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand currency points; and
(b) 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.
6.Exercise of functions and services for which Government is responsible
(1) 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.
(2)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.
(3)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.
(4)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—
(a)in the case of a legal entity, to a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand currency points; and
(b)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.
(5) 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.
(6)The Minister may, by regulations, prescribe the procedure and requirements for obtaining the approval referred to under this section.
This is the complete text of THE PROTECTION OF SOVEREIGNTY ACT, 2026 (Cap 7). For legal advice, please consult a qualified lawyer.