Uganda parliament is considering a bill that could fundamentally reshape how the East African nation engages with its diaspora — and alarm bells are already ringing across civil society, the banking sector, and among Ugandans living abroad.
The Protection of Sovereignty Bill, 2026, would require any Ugandan living outside the country to obtain authorization from the Interior Ministry before engaging in a wide range of activities, including receiving money from family members back home. Penalties for non-compliance would reach up to 10 years in prison and fines running into hundreds of millions of shillings.
The Uganda Bankers Association has warned the legislation could severely disrupt remittance flows, which represent a critical lifeline for millions of households. Uganda diaspora is estimated to send home over billion annually — money that funds education, healthcare, and small businesses across the country.
Perhaps most controversially, the bill defines a foreigner to include any Ugandan citizen residing outside Uganda. Under this definition, dual citizens — a right enshrined in Article 15 of Uganda Constitution — would effectively be treated as foreigners under domestic law, despite holding Ugandan nationality.
Civil society organizations have come out strongly against the proposed legislation. In a joint statement, more than a dozen NGOs demanded its immediate withdrawal, arguing it violates constitutional protections and basic human rights. They say the bill treats law-abiding diaspora citizens as potential threats rather than partners in national development.
Legal analysts note the legislation would create a two-tier citizenship, where Ugandans abroad lose rights their counterparts inside the country enjoy. Constitutional scholars argue any law that contradicts the Bill of Rights would face immediate judicial scrutiny.
Supporters of the bill argue it is necessary to protect Uganda sovereignty against foreign interference and ensure accountability for activities conducted abroad that may affect domestic stability. Proponents contend existing frameworks are insufficient to regulate the growing financial flows entering the country from overseas.
The legislation arrives as Uganda prepares for upcoming elections, with opposition figures warning it could be used to target political dissidents living in exile. Human rights groups say the timing raises additional concerns about democratic backsliding in a country once celebrated for its peaceful transfers of power.
If passed in its current form, the bill would place Uganda among a handful of nations that have moved to restrict diaspora rights in recent years — a trend critics say undermines the global norm of dual citizenship and free movement that African professionals increasingly rely upon.
Parliament is expected to debate the bill in coming weeks, with civil society promising mass mobilization should the government press ahead.