Pressure is mounting on Uganda’s Parliament over the controversial Protection of Sovereignty Bill, 2026, with civil society actors, legal experts, religious leaders, and citizens calling for an immediate halt to the process and fresh, transparent consultations, following revelations by Yoweri Museveni that the version before lawmakers differs from what Cabinet originally approved.

Calls are intensifying for Parliament to suspend debate on the proposed Protection of Sovereignty Bill, 2026, as stakeholders raise alarm over its constitutionality, transparency, and potential economic implications.

Concerns deepened after President Yoweri Museveni disclosed discrepancies between the Cabinet-approved draft and the version currently before Parliament, triggering questions over the bill’s legislative process and integrity.

Stakeholders are now demanding that Parliament pause deliberations and subject the bill to broader public consultations, lawful certification, and a comprehensive review of how amendments were introduced.

Critics argue that the bill risks duplicating existing legal frameworks and could have far-reaching economic consequences if passed in its current form.

Citing Article 1 of the 1995 Constitution, which vests sovereignty in the people, the Citizens’ Coalition has joined the growing list of voices calling for the withdrawal of the bill, insisting that any legislation touching on sovereignty must reflect the will of the people through inclusive processes.

As debate intensifies, attention now turns to Parliament, where lawmakers face increasing pressure to either proceed with the bill or heed widespread calls for transparency, accountability, and public participation.