KAMPALA — The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), a party founded on the principle that sovereignty belongs to the people of Uganda, has strongly condemned the Protection of Sovereignty Bill, 2026, calling it a “lie” and a “tool to enslave Ugandans.”
The Bill was tabled in Parliament on April 15, 2026, by the State Minister for Internal Affairs, and has sparked a heated debate across the political landscape. FDC officials, led by the party’s spokesperson, voiced their strong opposition to the proposed legislation, which they claim seeks to undermine basic freedoms and curtail civil liberties.
In a statement released to the media, the FDC rejected the bill in its entirety, accusing it of being part of a broader government agenda to silence opposition, imprison dissenters, and dismantle the democratic rights of the Ugandan people.
“This Bill, like many others introduced by the National Resistance Movement (NRM) in recent years, is designed to do one thing: to silence, imprison, and destroy the Ugandan people’s ability to speak, assemble, challenge power, and live in freedom,” the FDC spokesperson stated.
The Protection of Sovereignty Bill, 2026, is intended to bolster Uganda’s national security framework by providing government authorities with enhanced powers to monitor and respond to perceived threats to the country’s sovereignty. Proponents argue that it is a necessary measure to protect the country from both internal and external destabilizing forces.
However, the FDC believes that the Bill’s true purpose is far more nefarious, accusing the government of using national security as a pretext to further restrict political freedoms and suppress opposition voices. They argue that the legislation gives the state unchecked powers to target critics and activists under the guise of national security.
The FDC’s statement went further to argue that the bill violates the very essence of Uganda’s democratic principles, particularly the right to free speech, peaceful assembly, and the ability to challenge the government.
“At its core, this Bill seeks to criminalize dissent, making it easier for the government to imprison and persecute those who disagree with its policies,” the statement added.
The bill has divided opinion in Parliament, with some MPs from the ruling party supporting the legislation, while others, including opposition members and civil society organizations, have expressed concern over its potential impact on human rights and freedoms.
As the Bill progresses through Parliament, the FDC has vowed to mobilize Ugandans across the country to resist what it calls an attempt to “enslave” the population. The party has pledged to take the fight to the streets and engage with all sectors of society to ensure that the bill does not become law.
“We will not allow our hard-won freedoms to be taken away. We will continue to fight for a Uganda where the people, not the state, hold sovereignty,” the FDC concluded.
The debate over the Protection of Sovereignty Bill, 2026, is set to intensify as it moves through parliamentary committees and further public consultations, with the FDC and other critics promising to intensify their opposition to the legislation.
