HRF condemns draconian new foreign financing restrictions imposed by Uganda’s dictatorship on political opposition and NGOs under a new law that codifies centralized political control of dissent under the guise of curbing foreign influence.

In May, Ugandan dictator Yoweri Museveni signed the controversial Protection of Sovereignty bill into law. The law requires individuals and groups engaged in policy change or government accountability efforts that receive external sources of funding to register as “agents of a foreigner.” It hands the minister of internal affairs sweeping authority to shape NGO registration eligibility criteria and rules, as well as to control the issuance, suspension, and revocation of certificates of registration. The minister has the power to inspect and approve activities of registered “foreign agents” and to deregister organizations without appeal or legal review. Groups must disclose all employees, funders, and agreements, and obtain cabinet approval before carrying out their work.

While exempting foreign funding to government, health, academic, research, faith-based institutions, and diaspora remittances, among others, the law criminalizes civic engagement activities, including influencing the public to oppose a government policy and engaging in activities deemed by authorities to be “disruptive” — such as influencing the enactment of legislation or government decision-making. A specific provision calls out “influencing, imposing or normalising ideologies which are inconsistent with the Constitution or which conflict with any culture, customs,” a likely allusion to LGBTQ rights advocacy.

The law imposes fines ranging from one to two trillion Ugandan shillings ($273,000 – $546,000) and prison terms of up to 10 years for offenses such as receiving foreign funding to participate in “disruptive activities,” knowingly promoting the interest of a foreigner against the interests of Uganda, advocating for a foreign policy that is not the government’s, organizing a meeting or any function “with the aim of interfering with the operations of Government,” and “knowingly publishing false information or participating in any disruptive act or activity” deemed to “weaken, undermine or damage the economic system or viability of the country.”