Government Set to Table National Sovereignty Bill as NGO Funding Proposal Is Absorbed into

Kampala — April 14, 2026 The Government is expected to table the National Sovereignty Bill in Parliament tomorrow, with the Minister of Internal Affairs set to formally present it for its first reading, marking the beginning of its consideration in the House. Once introduced, the Bill will be referred to relevant parliamentary committees for detailed scrutiny before it proceeds to further debate and possible amendments.

The proposed legislation has its roots in earlier policy discussions that initially centred on the NGO Funding Bill, which was widely associated with proposals on donor funding coordination, tax incentives for civil society organisations, and structured support for externally funded development programmes. However, as the policy evolved, government sources indicate that the funding and tax-related provisions were dropped, and the remaining elements were merged into a broader National Sovereignty Bill focused on regulation and oversight of foreign influence.

(Caption: Nyanzi Martin Luther/image)

Ugandan businessman Nyanzi Martin Luther, who has been closely associated with public commentary on the issue, says he remains hopeful that the restructured Bill will be tabled as expected. According to him, although the original funding components have been removed, the current focus on addressing foreign dependency and strengthening national control over externally driven influence still reflects important policy objectives for the country.

He further notes that the shift from a funding-oriented proposal to a sovereignty-based framework shows a broader change in direction, where emphasis is now placed on reducing reliance on external support and reinforcing domestic decision-making in governance and development matters.

The National Sovereignty Bill is now expected to be formally introduced in Parliament by the Minister of Internal Affairs, after which it will undergo first reading and committee review. Parliamentary sources indicate that lawmakers will have the opportunity to examine how the earlier NGO Funding Bill concepts were integrated into the revised structure during detailed scrutiny.

The tabling is expected to draw attention from civil society groups and policy observers, particularly because of its potential implications for foreign-funded programmes and partnerships operating in Uganda.