Written By | Our Reporter
Parliamentary sitting
Search
Kampala
Fresh procedural concerns have emerged in Parliament as lawmakers prepare to debate The Protection of Sovereignty Bill, 2026, with questions raised over Executive influence and the handling of a leaked committee report.
Nakawa West MP Joel Ssenyonyi challenged the propriety of a letter reportedly written by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to committee chairpersons regarding the Bill. He argued that direct guidance from the Executive to parliamentary committees undermines established legislative procedures.
Ssenyonyi further sought direction from Speaker Anita Among on whether the House should proceed with debate, following the alleged leak of the committee report on the Bill.
Citing precedent, Ssenyonyi referenced an earlier ruling concerning a report on Uganda Airlines, where it was held that documents belonging to Parliament should not be debated once leaked.
“You guided this House that a report which is property of Parliament cannot leak and still be debated. Does this not apply in this case?” Ssenyonyi asked.
Government Defends Bill’s Objectives
Responding to the concerns, Minister of State for Internal Affairs David Muhoozi outlined the objectives of the proposed law, saying it is intended to safeguard Uganda’s sovereignty.
Muhoozi told Parliament that the Bill seeks to prevent undue external influence, regulate foreign funding, strengthen national security, address existing legal gaps, and manage the spread of digital misinformation.
Speaker Clears Way for Debate
In her guidance to the House, Speaker Anita Among indicated that the issues raised by Members had already been comprehensively handled at committee level.
She said she had reviewed the committee report and was satisfied that critical concerns — including the declaration of foreign funding, the scope of ministerial powers, and the definition of a “foreigner” — were thoroughly examined.
“Matters of public interest were exhaustively addressed by the committee,” Among ruled, effectively clearing the way for debate on the Bill to proceed.
The developments set the stage for what is expected to be a contentious debate, as legislators weigh national security considerations against concerns over governance, transparency, and legislative independence.
Torch Media Africa
