Human Rights Watch (HRW) warned on Thursday that a new draft law before the Ugandan parliament could be used to stifle civil society, comparing it to a similar Russian law on foreign agents. HRW warns that this bill threatens to restrict freedom of expression and assembly.
Bill 13the Law for the Protection of Sovereignty, was presented in first reading on April 15th. The bill criminalizes activities that promote “the interests of a foreigner against the interests of Uganda.” Its general provisions include the ban on conducting activities “related to the implementation of government policy” and receiving funds for organizing meetings on foreign policy. Violations can be punished with up to 20 years in prison.
In order to avoid the consequences of the draft law, you would have to register as a foreign agent in a procedure that has not yet been defined. This would allow the Home Office to inspect the agent’s “premises” without a court order.
Oryem Nyeko, senior Africa researcher at HRW, said:
The Sovereignty Protection Law is the latest example of the government’s efforts to suppress dissent and prevent political or social organization and participation. The proposed law replicates a repressive tool used by other abusive governments to suppress the exercise of rights and stigmatize human rights defenders, independent media and other dissenting voices.
The new law follows an election in which the government cracked down on opposition parties. An internet shutdown was imposed in Uganda ahead of January’s elections, which HRW said was a violation of fundamental rights and electoral integrity. Additionally, on January 8, Director of the Center for Constitutional Governance and vocal critic of President Yoweri Museveni’s government, Sarah Bireete, was arrested and charged with unlawful acquisition or disclosure of personal information. Finally, in the run-up to the elections, Ugandan security forces used excessive force against opposition rallies, including the use of tear gas, pepper spray and beatings.
The bill is similar to other laws passed around the world and is modeled on Russia’s Foreign Agents Law of 2012. In 2024, the Georgian Parliament passed its Foreign Influence Transparency Law despite numerous protests against the law. Both Kyrgyzstan and El Salvador have passed laws that have been criticized by human rights organizations. A similar law has also been proposed in Hungary.
