This video documents the Ugandan Parliament's deliberation on the Protection of Sovereignty Bill 2026, revealing the complex legislative process involving committee reviews, stakeholder consultations with over 224 parties, and intense debates on sovereignty protection, foreign influence regulation, and national security. The proceedings highlight parliamentary procedures including bill referral to joint committees, public participation mechanisms, and the critical role of the Speaker as custodian of parliamentary law. The debates also cover supplementary expenditure schedules totaling over 1 trillion Ugandan shillings, demonstrating how legislative bodies balance national security concerns with constitutional protections and fiscal responsibilities.
Parliament opts to make a decision on the Sovereignty BillAdded:
under two and three of article 97 within and I'll proceed to page Number one, unconstitutional deprivation.
To reintroduce the foreign element against Freedom of expression under attack and belief. Now closes. 5 7 8 9 and association anding or participating in a riot. or system close 13. These restrictions are neither permit any limitation of the enjoyment of the right.
Freedom of association and assembly threatened.
Influence the policies through civic organization.
And in places in some places extinguish that right one all persons are equal.
I accept to that. Then the foreigners and there the right to privacy of a person and property and Uh to inspect the premises widened arbitrary provision. Authorities to look act. Charles and another versus attorney general of Uganda. I think honorable numbers has hinted on it.
acts at the order requests under the at page 14. Now the forena clause I think Right honorable speaker, I have highlighted the bill is accompanied with a defective S on the following areas. One that when passed, the impact of the bill on the economy without telling us what we are like defective and cannot support this bill.
and I associate in the same terms.
Inconsistence and the voluntary strokes are excessive and disregard the precedence of the finally right honorable speaker for my reasons And here nobody will ask me whether holders in the committee that the committee engaged with I think only three people supported, three stakeholders and the gentleman from Fort Porto, M.
ated in cabinet. But it does not stop there.
The president's instructions only the m and not the minister.
>> Honorable.
So, right honorable speaker And therefore there is no need for firefighting.
And behind the curtain of sovereignty and security Democratic tenants, constitutional commands and injurious to for recommend as follows. One, the entirety for the reasons stated above.
Fight for us.
Yes. Motion.
Uh, right honorable speaker and honorable of the Minority Reports.
A member may for the house.
I therefore and 214 sub rule on the bill and the debate.
Honorable a general or mother.
Gabrielle Doma Bizo Maxi by the Horus.
You see, the honorable all the elders One is that rule two Under rule 17, sub rule.
is that this particular report and I believe with the turnup you have in is that the members basing on the three reasons. I justify right honorable speaker.
>> Thank you.
It is apparently clear that the minutes of the committee meetings and How many members have reported to you that they have?
Of course, you know, the presentation has not been to have have not had time to look at the reports, read them.
Three most important right honorable speaker. This particular bill is important that members be given time to debate. So I do strong oppose the move the motion right honorable speaker I think the question has beened to read quickly which I strongly oppose because I about agents of foreigners.
First, I put a question that rule A report of the committee of protection of Right.
Our rules of procedure provides for division And immediately 40 or more members stand in their places.
Eyes have it. So these are more than 40 the rules. You need to start reading the rules. So, madam, like to implore you that we do the casting by division.
Oh, no.
Nobody will I will not speak before you.
Right honorable speaker, the rule says you honor members. I don't need to assertain And then we see and one thing I can tell you whether we All right. Amazing.
A point for eyes. The eyes can and Yes.
And the one substaining can remain with me.
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>> Test it.
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I was awake for 10 years. That's why I was 10 years. I was >> honorable member. Madame speaker innocent person prayer.
Almighty God who in prodial goodness have appointed leaders and parliaments for those strategic servants whom we've been pleased called to perform a sort of trust in this land.
Let your blessings send upon the assembled and gr that they may in your presence treat and cause all matter that shall come at that deliberation in soldiers and following moners to promote your honor and glory and to advance the good of host those interests you have committed dear church.
honorable members. Can we have silence?
Item two >> and and free sitting.
>> Item two on the order paper.
Communication from the chair.
>> Honorable members, I want to welcome you to this afternoon sitting.
As you recall on Tuesday 21st April 2026 I guided that the committees that had pending business should expedite and conclude with the reports and I'm happy some of the committees have done it and as we are leaving 11th parliament we should be able to leave 11's parliament clean whereas adj on Thursday 24th 2026 need has arisen because some committees are ready with their work and they ready to report to the house and we should be able to consider what is on the order paper.
Honor members, you will also note that we are now at the tail end of the of the 11th parliament.
As such, it is our best to our best interest to ensure a smooth transition from the 11th parliament to the 12th parliament by leaving nothing behind.
I want to request members to cooperate with us and we ensure that we finish what is pending.
I should be able to give you the last supper on earth.
On earth we should be able to give the last supper.
Thank you.
>> Yes.
Yes.
>> Uh, thank you very much, right honorable speaker.
Right honorable speaker, I came here but left my heart out because of the unusual deployment outside. It's as if parliament has become a barracks.
soldiers including UPDF who are always not here. They came here 8 in the morning these UPDF listening posts but they also faces that are unusual that have seen in parliament.
So I am raising this procedure madame speaker seeking a seeking a assurance from you that what happened the day we processed the coffee amendment bill won't happen today that day rights were switched off and people we don't know entered parliament and kidnapped MPs so can we get assurance madame speaker I even saw skoy We bought them to go and fight agents of foreign interests, but they are here fighting parliament. So, can we be assured, Madame Speaker, of our safety?
>> Honor members, so long as you're in this house, you're all very safe.
And unfortunately, I didn't see the deployment.
Maybe because I came through the lift, they run away from me.
Hey, but they will not harm my my people.
Pan is also here.
You know when there's a last supper, everybody has to come.
>> Next item.
item.
>> I'm also happy to see Lope.
>> Next item.
>> Item 43 on the order paper laying of papers supplementary expenditure schedule number five for the financial year 2025 2026.
Honorable members.
Honorable members.
On 30th April 2026, the office of the cler of parliament received a supplementary expenditure schedule five of financial year 2025 2026.
Can I have order?
Honorable members, this supplementary schedule is of an urgency.
I remember Dr. Kea raised an issue on the election of LOC's and the shed was there but we did not have a minister then to come and present.
We have issues like payment of areas for local governments staff.
We have issues like preparation of AFCON. They are all in this supplementary schedule. And because of this agency, I want to request the house that we consider this supplementary and pursuant to rule one of the rules of procedia.
I would invite the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to move a motion to that effect.
And then after moving a motion to that effect, we will now request to someone to move a motion on suspension of this bill going to the committee. Yes. The honorable >> right right honorable speaker. Thank you very much. I was and I am concerned that we're inviting somebody called minister of finance.
I have read the Twitter hand of my brother the president of the republic of Uganda.
uh his excellency Joel Kagutam 7 says, "Today I chaired final cabinet meeting of the outgoing cab government and later hosted members to a lunchon in appreciation of their dedicated service to the country. This is the cabinet that ushered in Uganda into middle income status and I thank everyone who contributed to this achievement including cabinet secretaries for effectively managing." Now these people having had their final supper yesterday, actually last evening and the president saw them off wishing them well and now we are here still have claiming we have ministers.
Do we have a cabinet? Guide me, Madam Speaker. The owner of the cabinet dissolved. First of all, that is not a treat from your brother.
That treat is not from the president of Republic of Uganda.
And being one of the best lawyers in town, the best lawyers in town, you know, when cabinet stops, you're now talking about the treat. I didn't know that even a senior advocate would believe in he say because the law is very clear their term of office ends on the day the president is being sworn in that is on 12th that's when you can also be appointed as a minister of concession affairs no that was just a It is not from the president.
Yes, Nathan.
>> Thank you, Madame Speaker.
When you talk of a supplementary, we came in here during our campaigns. We passed a supplementary for Minister of Works 1.6 trillion.
When we met them, they had only got a pantry of 500 billion. The roads are in a bad state all over the country. So what does a supplementary mean? I thought it would be money directly to go into their roads. The money never reached them. So there's no use of passing a supplementary when the money cannot go the beneficiaries. It's just like >> so we should not have election for LC1's LOC 2.
>> No. How sure that the money will go there?
We want to be assurances.
>> You would rather give directions but have roads repaired. That's why we pass all of us.
>> Why didn't you say we would not would rather not have your elections as a member of parliament?
>> You could have even postponed. I wouldn't mind.
>> What we are after is Uganda having roads without >> Nathan you're saying like that because you escaped otherwise somebody was going to whip you. Next item. Next item.
Next item.
Right honorable speaker and colleagues, I beg to lay on table the supplementary schedule number five for financial year 2025 2026 amounting to Uganda shillings 1 trillion 105 billion 63 million.
>> I beg to move.
>> I beg to lay your right honorable speaker.
>> Thank you.
That is under rule 160 step sub rule one of the rules of procedia seconded.
Seconded by Isaac, by Peter, by byesu, by honorable Bahhati, by honorable by the holocide, Abbeos, I kissa, Gabrielle, Eric, Mariam, Meo, Elijah, Max marks a call or aren Fox Tom Kino by the majority.
Honorable members, please enter in.
Honorable members.
Right honorable speaker and colleagues.
Right honorable speaker and colleagues.
The supplemental schedule number five was administratively presented to the office of the speaker on 29th of April 2006 and I have just also laid it on formally >> correction on 30th.
>> It was on 30th.
Uh Madame Speaker, I wish to collect the date as 30th April 2026.
And Madame Speaker, I wish to present the details of this schedule as follows.
>> Uh, right honorable speaker.
>> Yes, there's a procedure matter.
Madame Speaker, the minister as per the order paper and rules, he has laid the schedule, but he's also going ahead to do something the rules don't provide that he's explaining. I don't know under which rule the has been here long.
The speaker suggested to you but being NRM you didn't even hear that if you want to proceed to the next stage you move parliament you don't just raise up as if you areing cows you have you have laid now you are justifying what are you justifying under which rule >> thank you thank you okay >> the the the do the supplement that has been laid Eight.
Yes. Honorable Fox.
>> Motion. Madame Speaker. Uh, Madame Speaker. P want to rule 17 of the rules of procedure of the Parliament of the Republic of Uganda. I beg to move that we the house be pleased to suspend rules 163, four and five of the rules of procedure to enable this honorable house to consider supplementary expenditure number five for the financial year 2025 2026 without >> honorable honorable yufu Honorable by the by the holocide. Thank you.
Can you justify why you you're moving with that?
>> Right honorable speaker. Supplementary expenditure number five for the final financial year 2025 2026 makes provisions for critical areas of expenditure.
Expenditure area number one is elections for local castle one. Our democratization processes require that we carry out elections all the way to the lowest uh units of our administration. It's imperative that we provide resources to enable the people of Uganda exercise their democratic rights to elect their local council.
One. Number two, it provides for AFCON.
This is one of our flagship projects. We bided for AFCON to weed to host AFCON with other East African states. We need to make provisions for that item. It also provides for the swearing in ceremony of the president of the Republic of Uganda.
This is a culmination of the hard ear and efforts of the people of Uganda who who elected their president. We have to provide for the swearing in ceremony.
Thastly, it provides for salary areas. The people who work for the Republic of Uganda have to be paid and as a parliament, we have to make provisions for the payment of salary areas. I request honorable colleagues that you support uh the supplementary expenditure number five of 2025 2026 yes you can debate it has no problem.
Thank you, Right Honorable Speaker.
The reasons given by uh both the minister and the honorable Fox Sudoi on the face of it sound reasonable.
But let me question the commitment of our servants in government and those that make budgets.
When we are making the when we're enacting the public finance management act, we put conditions for supplementaries.
There are certain things which are foreseeable.
Number one, who in government did not know that we shall have a swearing in ceremony for the president elect and that the functions surrounding that are funded from taxpayers money from the budget.
Who did not know that the election of LC's are long overdue for us to be here stampeded into making provision for monies over items we knew?
Who did not know that there are servants serving the Republic of Uganda who are supposed to be paid from our coffers.
How does someone the minister come here today to tell us that you want a supplementary to pay salaries less than a month to the next budget?
>> Thank you, Minister.
>> Before the minister, >> thank you. Right honorable speaker.
Right honorable speaker, before I present the details of the supplementary, I want to appreciate honorable Sea for his concerns for an item in the law section 24 of the Public finance man management act is very clear.
For an item to qualify for supplementary, it must have been unforeseen at the time of budgeting or unavoidable.
Madame speaker, without wasting much time, I want to be specific.
looking at an item of swearing in.
It is true we foraw that there was going to be swearing in of the president on 12th of May and we provided the funding to that effect.
But what has a reason what we provided and what is required is different. So what we are asking for is over and above what we provided at the time of budgeting which is allowable. Madam speaker >> it is basically 3 billion shillings.
>> It is only three billion shillings.
Madame speaker how I wish how I wish the house >> members. Can we have order?
>> Madame Speaker, I now come to the details of this supplemental schedule.
>> No, let let me hear from the shadow the shadow minister of finance.
But in the meantime, >> in the meantime, we in the VIP gallery, we have a members elect 12th parliament.
We have honorable Somaya number one NA from you're most welcome.
Stop that noo. Can you clap for my members?
We have honorable Karun an we have honorable Anthony West.
We have honorable ctoia woman.
We have honorable go Moses budaka county.
We have honorable Arinite Livia woman.
We have honorable Ari from Bamba County.
You're almost welcome.
In the VIP gallery also we have the former member of parliament and the secretary general of Uganda People's Congress, honorable Bill Fred. They are all here to witness the proceedings.
Yes. Honorable Sujo.
>> I think Madame Speaker, people who are seated next to my brother, the honorable Masi, you will need to apply a speed meter.
Right now, we are still debating the motion to suspend the rules.
For the second third time, he's going to elaborate on what is in the schedule.
And I want madame speaker to concentrate on the motion moved by the honorable foxi.
Appropriation is one of the key functions of parliament.
If you look at section 12 of the public finance management act, we are required before we authorize government to spend money to look at their procurement plans to look at work plan and the cash flow.
That is a matter of law that the honorable Fox you cannot suspend because that suspension means that you're also suspending the requirement under section 12 of the public finance management act and the reason is that you are going to spend people's money their representative must look at the work plan procurement plan and cash flow I don't want to accuse you of also honorable folk honorable Section 12 is on the annual budget.
We are talking about a supplementary.
I agree madame speaker a supplementary is part of the budget because we are supplementing the budget not something else.
So the the the point I I make madame speaker there is absolutely no way this parliament seated here will look at procurement plans. We'll look at work plan and cash flow and then authorize government to go and spend money. The minister and I want to thank him. He said you already have money for the swearing in ceremony. You want more.
That's the very reason why the public finance management act was made for us to look at the money that we gave you if it's not enough and we do that by looking at the procurement we look at the work plan and then authorize you but for you to come here and blindfold all MPs and say there is a swearing in ceremony because being in Har does not absolve you of the responsibility of following the law because you are in har so you are absolved you or not. So I want to hear the honorable fox a lawyer telling us whether you can also suspend the requirements of the public finance management act. If there is a provision in any law allowing you to suspend the the the law then we can deal with the rules. So right I'll ask you later to speak as shadow finance minister. I am now debating like any ordinary MP and I am opposed to this motion of Fox Oi that is taking our responsibility of parliament from scrutinizing requests from government.
>> Honorable Foxi is always seeking for the house to allow him suspend and and and you know how this can be approved.
We shall put a question. But meanwhile, Prime Min Vice President and Prime Minister, you're all welcome for this session as we also prepare for our last supper.
Honorable members.
Honorable members.
Honorable members.
I am putting a question that rule 16 sub rule three, four and five be suspended to enable direct consideration of the supplementary expenditures schedule. Number five for financial year 2025 2026 by the house without referral to the budget committee and relevant sec sector committees.
Those in favor say the contract n have it.
Honorable members.
Honorable members.
I now put a question that the supplementary expenditure schedule number five for financial year 2025 2026 be approved by this house behind Honorable members, we approving the the the schedule then we go to supply.
Honorable members, just a minute. Just a minute. He moved the motion. Mr. Move the motion.
Mr. Okman moved the motion.
I mean he read and then when he's going to justify it. So honorable minister after the suspension you justify.
Can we first get a justification?
No.
Can we have a justification?
Okay. The item on moving the motion.
Uh, right honorable speaker and colleagues four of the public finance management act states that the total supplementary expenditure that requires additional resources over and above what is approved by parliament shall not exceed 3%. % of the total approved budget for that financial year without approval of parliament.
Right honorable speaker and colleagues, you recall that parliament approved supplemental expenditure schedules number one 2 3 and four for financial year 2025 2026 as follows. Shed one under 3% 1,652.29 billion. Schedule 2 still under three schedule two for roads above 3% 1,696 billion.
Three supplementally schedule 3 above 3% 4,776.11 billion four supplementally schedule 4 transfer to NFA budget following rationalization 22 billion totaling to 8,000 126.4 billion. Madame Speaker, subsequently cabinet approved supplemental expenditure schedule number five as follows. Within 3% 519.002 billion above 3% 586.161 billion totaling to one 1 trillion 105 billion 163 million. Right honorable speaker, this supplementary will be financed as follows. One, budgetary reallocation 40.21 billion. Additional tax revenue stroke roco revenue 6.25 billion.
Additional external financing 72.90 billion.
Reallocation efficiency in budget execution and cash management 985.80 billion. Madame Speaker, I now go into vote by vote.
Madame Speaker, we will spend We will spend this supplementary under the following votes.
>> Honorable members, honorable members, as you're near the switches, please don't switch over our light.
Number one, vote 002 state house.
Uganda shrinks 300 billion to cater for classified expenditures.
two vote 010 Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Uganda Shillings 3.8 billion to operationalize Capeeka farm service center.
Three, vote 144 Uganda Police Force Uganda shillings 110.41 41 billion to finance additional security interventions and emerging contractual obligations owing to the 2026 general elections.
This ensured peace peaceful general elections as you should have all witnessed.
Vote 017 Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development Uganda Shillings 24.850 billion for partial payment for government acquisition of the electromax 50 megawatt power plant in Toro. This will enable government to commence the implementation of its energy policy mix that necessates a 10% generation capacity from thermal power. Vote 126 National Information Technologies Authority Uganda shillings 21.966 billion. This is additional financing for internet services under the national information technology authority.
This situation arose out of increase in internet usage during the financial year by MDAs and local governments following implementation of last mile connectivity.
Vote 142.
National Agriculture Research Organization NARO Uganda shillings 20 billion. This is to cover operational shortfalls realized during the ongoing roll out of the antique vaccine.
The shortfalls are for purchase of reagents, packaging materials and recruitment of additional staff.
Vote 015.
Ministry of Trade Industry and Cooperatives Uganda shillings 37.90 billion for capitalization of Uganda Development Corporation as an additional investment in Ajak sugar factory.
Uh the second category is self financing and budget neutral supplementary requests over and above 3% legal limit which require prior approval by cabinet and parliament of a total of 586.16 billion for supplemental expenditure schedule 5 that is above 3% legal limit.
A total of 123.03 billion is self financing and that's budget neutral. The self financing stroke budget neutral supplementary includes the following reallocation of Uganda shillings 40.21 billion to cater for additional wage for recruitment of health workers under 19 referral hospitals.
Honorable colleagues, there is need to allocate wage of Uganda shillings 14.21 billion currently budgeted for under ministry of health to 19 referral hospitals. This is required to cater for recruitment and absorption of critical health workers that were previously being being supported.
workers that were previously supporting these hospitals before suspension of usage funding for essential health services. The beneficial referral hospitals are the following.
Babika hospital, Aurua hospital, Fortoto hospital, Guru hospital, Hima Hospital, Ginger Hospital, Kawi Hospital, Masaka Hospital, Mar Hospital, Sor Hospital, LA hospital, Mara Regional Referral Hospital, Mubenda Regional Referral Hospital, Moroto Regional Referral Hospital, Nagur National Referral Hospital, hospital, regional referral hospital, Morago specialized women and neonatal hospital, Kaunga referral hospital and Yumebe referral hospital.
Number two, Uganda shrinks 9.92 billion for various local governments which are also detailed in the annex.
one Uganda shillings 1.44 billion as unspent balances under the Uganda intergovernmental fiscal transfer program UG gift that were returned to the Uganda consolidated fund at the end of financial year 2024 2025.
This funding is required to enable the local governments meet the outstanding contract obligations under the program for this year. two Uganda shillings 2.22 billion for the Uganda support to municipal infrastructure development made project as unspent balances that were returned to the Uganda consolidated fund at the end of financial year 2024 2025.
This funding is required to enable the local governments miss their contract obligations and avoid >> uh right honorable speaker when you began uh in your communication at the beginning of this session. You did say and I applauded you that even as we exit we must leave this parliament and the nation clean.
having lost in our attempt to block this supplementary and purely as a Ugandan.
I concede that we lost on that.
What I do not concede to is that we have also lost the duty to scrutinize the documents with the background I have given and the need to do the job you have called upon us to do.
May I move that you find pleasure in suspending the proceedings for at least 15 minutes for us to be able to access the documents and follow the proceedings properly so that we support what we know.
>> Members, don't you have the report?
>> We don't.
>> You have the report.
>> The document is online. when it was uploaded.
>> Uh, you know, I gave all of you iPads and I know my dad here gave gave it to my little brother.
So, actually gave my stepmother.
So, so check what is on the iPad. Uh, can you continue?
Thank you. Right honorable speaker.
Right honorable speaker.
Uganda shillings 6.25 million.
>> Honorable members, let's listen to this.
These monies are going to hospitals. We are the ones who have been complaining hospitals don't have workers and and and we are and we are here. you wasting. By the way, let me first let me tell you, if you think you're going to waste my time for us not to finish, we shall finish.
We are here to finish. I know my sister is not used to finishing, but today she will finish.
Yes.
Uh go go go ahead is too much. Uh madame speaker order.
>> Madame speaker under this category we have 6.25 25 billion to cater for the additional roco revenue collected by local government votes over and above their respective appropriated budget.
>> By the way, I was joking on my sister.
>> Yes.
>> And madame speaker, the local governments are the following.
Arua City, Ginger City.
>> Can you hear on your local governments?
>> Madame Speaker, the local governments with additional local revenue are the following. Arua city, Ginger city, LA city, Mar city, Apache municipal council, Aago district, Budaka district, Bjira district, Buhu district, Bambbury district, Bushena district, Doro district, Ginga district, Kiro district, Cases district, Chiku district, Koboko district, Chagua district, Chenjo district, Chera district, district, Mara district, Mitoma district, Moroto district, Naka district, Nakaora district, Namiinda district, Oonga district, Parisa district, Randa district, Ruiz district, Rucha district, Sono district, Toro district among others.
I can finish all madame speaker.
We have we have also provided for Uganda shrinking 72.9 billion as additional dispersment by the World Bank for generating growth opportunities and productivity for women enterprises grow project. The World Bank approved and dispersed additional funds for generating growth opportunities and productivity for women enterprises project. These funds have to be utilized or else the grant will be cancelled at the end of this financial year.
Madame Speaker, I now come to the supplemental expenditures which are above 3% legal limit that require additional financing and the total is 463.15 billion and the particulars are as follows. Uganda shillings, Madame Speaker, Uganda sharings 56.95 billion for AOC1, AOC2 and women council committee elections countrywide as directed by cabinet.
These funds are required support the electoral commission to fully implement the election the electoral road map as already approved by cabinet.
Number two, Uganda shillings 29.57 billion for AFCON 2027 preparatory activities.
Honorable members, cabinet directed that we fully fund Afon 2027 beginning with immediate requirement in this financial year 2025 2026.
These funds are required to implement the urgent preparatory works, reduce implementation risk and keep the overall AFCON 2027 preparation program on schedule. The activities include the following.
One, Uganda shillings 14.1 billion for preliminary works at Cabara International Airport.
This one will go to ministry of works.
Two, Uganda shillings 8.03 billion for priority road works and associated support activities in Chira Municipal Council.
Three, Uganda shillings 3.06 billion for pitch improvement at Kadiba football stadium.
Four, Uganda shillings 0.31 billion for branding of host cities and content production for the destination Uganda documentary.
Five, Uganda shrinkings 1.17 billion for Hima city and Masind municipality to finance sanitation and road safety interventions.
Six, Uganda shillings 1.02 billion for meteorological and aviation safety support system.
Seven, Uganda shillings 1.8 8 billion for water utility preparatory works for the Hoy MCA.
Madame Speaker, we also require Uganda shrinkings 132.9 billion for outstanding obligations under Uganda police force.
These obligations resulted from outstanding allowances and feeding expenses for special police constables hired during the general elections and contract obligations for procurement of the three 24 troop carriers.
Two Uganda shillings 23.21 21 billion as counterpart funding for wage to operationalize the newly constructed seed schools under the World Bank Uganda intergovernmental fiscal transfer you gift program and the details are provided in the annex five Uganda shillings 107.52 billion for wage pension and gratuitity shortfalls resulting from in-ear salary enhancement undertaken by the Ministry of Public Service.
Six Uganda shillings 110 billion to cater for classified expenditures under vote 002 state house and seven Uganda shillings 3 billion to cater for budget shortfalls for the soiling in and inro ceremony of the presidentelect 2026 his excellency yel kabutam 7i under vote 001 office of the president.
Madame speaker, I had already earlier mentioned how this supplementary will be financed. I now conclude as follows.
Honorable colleagues, given the critical nature of these expenditures requirements, I pray that you consider and pass this supplementaryally to enable government meet these requirements as we come to close of the financial year. and all of them cannot wait for the new financial year. I beg to move for the house's consideration.
>> Thank you. Thank you, honorable Sams.
Also in the VIP gallery, we have honorable Kitty Peter from To County Bu. We have honorable Dai Arazor from Rohinda.
You're most welcome. Thank you for coming.
Yes, you've heard the supplementary that shadow.
Thank you very much. Um, honorable speaker.
First of all, from what the minister has read, in my opinion, nothing qualifies to be an emergency.
But I want to begin by thanking NRM Whip for the good mobilization.
There are colleagues I have not seen for more than a year.
Uh, I want to thank them.
>> Honorable members, all these members of parliament have been coming here. Unless you're telling me you've been half blind, leave my members of parliament.
They have been coming to the house.
>> Madame Speaker, I agree when we are processing the budget, all these seats were empty.
But I want to thank them. Um I am only fearing because last time when SFC invaded us they were standing like a men of those NRM MPs in the corners.
>> Honorable >> can I now?
Yes.
>> Honorable I have told you the members of parliament I elected to be in this house. So when you say that you've not been seeing these members of parliament that is an insult to yourselves >> and I am sorry madame speaker I didn't mean to offend anyone but if there are colleagues who have come for voting madam you can ask them to excuse themselves with some air these ones who are standing everywhere they will be notified that voting has started you bring there's an order there's an order Right honorable speaker is my senior friend and brother Seuju in order to begin calling us SFC like you do not know us. You have been seeing us in this house and then you are there saying you want fresh air. So you are going to get out. I sit where you are seated because I'm respecting you to sit while you talk and I'm here. So the order is is is is SEU in order to begin calling us SFCs when he knows that we are members of parliament really and then you want fresh air you go out we sit where you sit but but honorable Samu for me I have enough fresh air if you squeezed there just bring your seat next to me come and sit next to me because to the best of my knowledge this place is very high.
The the the hair here is good enough for everybody and nobody who is standing here is NSFC.
Why do you why do you I was just sympathetic. If they don't care, they can continue standing and I withdraw. I was just sympathetic to them.
But the motion, Madame Speaker, we have just considered the budget in the budget. Madame Speaker, this government did not provide 4 billion for the national development cultural development center to complete the new syllabus especially for our children in senior six who are going to sit for exams. They never had 4 billion in the budget we have just finished.
They also denied UNEB 80 billion to train teachers who are going to mark senior six the first group that is going to sit under a new curriculum and in their mind they have money to organize the ceremony because the president can be sworn in when he captured power he was sworn in here at the staircases of parliament and the son rose and and said but you have children 100,000 they are going to sit for exams you did not find 2 billion for national government to complete their 34 subjects.
You never gave UN 48 billion for them train teachers to go and mark these children and you have brought here money that we are going to have a ceremony just eating. I don't know what's wrong with NRM people. So so that you can deny our children an opportunity to study and then you bring money here for eating. You should be ashamed of yourself.
Right honorable speaker.
Thank you. Right honorable speaker.
Right honorable speaker.
Honorable Seu now wants to go to go beyond his appropriation law to now budget execution.
Madame Speaker, in the budget we passed, all those votes he's mentioning were appropriated money for.
>> Yes.
>> And what is >> members? Why are you shouting like we national? they were appropriated for.
But Madame Speaker, the common practice which all colleagues know that every vote comes to this house with unfunded priorities. So he's just taking us to the list of unfunded priorities which is a wish list. There is what you want and what we can provide and we are we are we we were satisfied that what pro we provided is sufficient to make the votes run through the air. If there is anything along the way that we didn't provide for if something occurs during implementation of the budget we shall now come back here and and ask for the money. Honorable members, it is this same government that brought the new curriculum and is the best interest of government to ensure that the new curriculum is implemented.
Can I hear from the prime minister?
Let me hear from Lo first before Madame Speaker, you see there's a reason why our laws are to a great extent very clear.
The public finance management act provides for supplementaries.
They are within the law.
But there's a coding there is a justification for supplementary budget unforeseeables.
I am struggling really struggling to understand how unforeseeable some of these things are in all honesty that we have got to do it in a haste. You said this is our last supper, our last sitting you said. So we are >> I did not say that.
>> You used the words last supper. Madam Speaker, I don't know what you meant, >> but you used it twice.
Anyhow, Madame Speaker, we are closing down as parliament and we seem to be in a haste to appropriate money for what we are saying is unforeseeable. I am struggling to understand how unforeseeable some of these things are.
We've talked about the inaugural ceremony. There is money for ATA right speaker 37.9 billion. We have been here and we have screamed our voices horse about projects like attack. There's another one day by a farmer.
>> Honorable I want you to listen honor.
>> Madame prime minister don't interrupt honorable he needs to listen to these critical issues.
We have talked about day by farmer which was given free money 778 billion money was given to inspire Africa coffee factory in dungamu 180 billion plus roco 260 billion shillings plus of course there's a specialized hospital which has become a white elephant we then talked about atak sugar factory so far 668 billion shillings over the to attack sugar factory. It's a factory I went to visit with colleagues and there is no sugar coming out of there for the last couple of years but every year we keep appropriating money now we even bringing money through a supplementary for ATA sugar factory help me understand who who is this ATA person that we have got to keep giving them money billions of shillings on an annual basis that now it even has to come through supplementary that it is an emergency right speaker to the taxpayers who are watching us we we could be seen as conduites of fraud.
Fraud is when you are paid for a service and you don't deliver it. You have given 668 billion shillings so far to attack.
No sugar is coming out of there and this is free money. You want to add them money for what?
>> I I don't understand.
>> Thank you. Thank you. Ron speaker the classified that's indicated here within the 3% legal limit 300 billion outside the 3% 110 billion that's a total of 410 billion shillings look every country will have a classified budget but you see your classified budget has got to be tethered to your revenue you cannot be a heavily indated poor country and you keep having trillions of classified budget. Now you have a supplementary for classified 410 billion shillings a few days to the closure of government. What are you going to do in these few days for this classified of 410 billion shillings?
Speaker, yes our laws can be rules can be suspended and and all of that but these things should make sense to the taxpayer. They should make sense. Now the taxpayer might try and understand you on the hospitals and so on and hopefully that money will go to the hospitals because many times we pass money for some of these things and it is fired when you read the accountability reports you see money was transferred from this and taken to something else.
So hopefully for the hospital money it gets to do that but help the taxpayer to understand this 410 classified budget billion for a few days government is closing down billions to a sugar factory that you've been giving money nothing is happening there I want to understand honorable speaker I I genuinely want to understand from prime minister and her team help me and the taxpayer whom you are going to squeeze a lot more you recently passed here more money, higher taxes on fuel and so on. So the taxpayer is paying for these things. Help the taxpayer to understand. We are waiting.
Thank you. Thank you honorable honorable.
Madame Speaker, I wish to clarify on the issue of uh on the issue of 3% and above 3%.
Madame Speaker, this schedule I have justified it in three categories.
We have expenditures which are within the 3% legal limit amounting to 519 billion. And here madame speaker we have already spent we have come here to seek for retrospective approval of the schedule and this is where aak sugar falls in the 3% which we have already spent. Then we have a schedule that is budget neutral.
Then we have this one which requires additional financing where we need authority of parliament to spend amounting to 300 no 586.16 billion.
Madame speaker in as far as the details of what we are doing under Aak sugar is concerned in the interest of synergy.
I want to with your indulgence the ministry of trade can respond to the specific activities which >> yes minister >> uh thank you madame speaker and colleagues as all of you know attack sugar factory is a project that is supported by government to transform the economy of northern Uganda.
Many of you who come from northern Uganda know how important that project will be.
Madame speaker, we have funded attack sugar factory to do a number of activities.
One is irrigation and attack sugar factory is finishing up the irrigation system to help guard the changing weather so that there is proper production of the sugar cane.
As we speak, Madame Speaker, I know members are very much concerned with when will the sugar from Attack Sugar Factory be put on the market. I have good news for you. I have good news for you. Attack Sugar Factory will start producing sugar uh in the month of September this year.
The irrigation has ended. 2026 will have sugar. So we should be able to support this sugar factory so that we have the factory running in September 2026. I >> Let's hear from the chairman of Asholi Parliamentary Group.
Right.
Right. Right honorable speaker.
As a matter of truth, the the people of Uganda, including myself, has been complaining a lot about attack sugar works.
What Uganda want to see is the sugar.
But unfortunately the production started in attack sugar works.
But the sugar cane that was planted got finished within a very short period.
And therefore from that point I don't speaker can I get protection please?
>> Members can you listen to honorable call?
Honorable call.
Right honorable speaker, from that point production stopped and was what what was resumed in the place was that at the time when we got the equipment for working on the garden there is a lot of plantation that has been taking place including irrigation.
It is fortunate that some people among us here has reached the place. I personally visited at what I want us including myself who is also complaining we need to be patient now and wait for the production to start.
I am I am I am happy that as a minister of trade they have taken more steps to make sure that the money which is given atak sugar some of the money will be paid back to the government including taking some of the property of attack sugar works and I must thank the minister for doing that.
uh very soon I think some of the property will become the property of offices of the members of parliament even here.
So for that matter what I can assure you right honorable speaker is that there is a lot of progress and production is going to start. That is all I can say.
Thank you.
>> There's a procedure from Jonah.
Madame Speaker, thank you. I'm raising a point of procedure.
The motion by honorable Fox Odoi was carried in this house to the extent that instead of the minister being referred to the relevant committee now the committee of the whole house is debating >> he's proceeding not debating he's proceeding to interrogate the minister.
And my question where I require you to guide, at what point do you anticipate members of parliament to ask of the minister documents?
At what point for example does the minister report to us that a resolution of this house where are you madame speaker you are presiding had identified loopholes in corporate governance in atyak government uh which is a majority shareholder there has put way more money than what what the company should have done. At what point are we going to satisfy ourself that the figures attached and are being requested of us to approve has been answered by the minister even on the LC1 elections and LC2. It is not enough to come and say I need 66 billion for LC1 LC2. We need to see the list of all the villages attached so that every member here can be sure that in my village I will not go back and they're going to ask me questions why village A is missing from the national list and even two on the issue of the police there is a figure here madame speaker of 56 billion and uh the request is is for reimbursement of police special police constables I can tell you in Lra and I think in many parts of the country the special police constable have not been paid for the services they gave and here the figure is saying reimbursement reimbursement presupposes that you had picked money from somewhere and paid them but they were not paid for the work they offered so at what point do we satisfy ourself that actually this ministry had paid so in terms of proceeding I'm asking you madam speaker >> thank you honorable one we are at the budgeting processing stage for us to approve this money to go to to to be approved as a supplementary.
On the issues of accountability, we have accountability committees that verify what this man has gone to do. For instance, this goes to Kosasi that has been managed by honorable Seona. So it is honorable to tell us in this report that is going to bring whether the money is being used in a proper way or not.
There's load speaker I seek your procedural indulgence.
We were here a couple of months ago and I was giving a report to this house about a yak sugar factory which we give billions no sugar coming out of there day by a farmer inspire Africa coffee roco and so on. The response by government was that um we have acquired stake in a number of these entities.
I then asked where are the share certificates where are the valuation reports government conceded that for some of these valuation had not happened speaker I remember when money was being passed for day by farmer 723 billion at the time we asked government they said they had not carried out valuation so we said what stake are you buying if you don't know the value you guided right speaker and you remember I disagreed with you you said let's pass the money then Government will hold that money before dispatching it to the entity to the private company until they do valuation and you said they will bring the valuation report here before the money is dispatched. They have never brought that report and I told you once we have appropriated that money we become official. The attorney general of Uganda, the honorable Chiwanuka Mugami promised on this floor on the Hansard that he will come to this house and table share certificates and table valuation reports for these companies. That has never happened.
But government keeps coming back for more money.
>> What are we funding? Because when you say we have got stake, we are shareholders as government. In each of these companies, where is the evidence?
But also before you acquire stake, you first do valuation. Good business people know that that before you inject your money in a business to say I'm buying let's say 30%.
What is that 30% worth? That's when you do valuation and then you know I am buying this much stake. These people lied to us because they have never produced those certificates. They have never produced the valuation report. So they told us a lie. Why then do you keep coming back for more money? You don't want to be transparent because what we want to know you are asking us to appropriate money to what? We want that accountability. By the way, it's not even enough. Right honorable speaker that sugar begins to come out of atyak in September. As sure as day follows night, it's not going to happen because every year they keep promising us. But let's even say it comes out. The taxpayer is asking what is my stake?
Forget that sugar will come out of that private entity.
What is the stake? Why don't you want to respond to these questions, but you want to keep coming asking us for more money and all of that? No, we should my view right honorable speaker. I want to thank the leader of uh of opposition for his very loud submission.
I'm a first time here loud. I heard him clearly. That's what loud means. I am a first time member of parliament like him and I've since learned how things are brought to parliament. Normally entities of government where government has invested there is an audit act. So we send the auditor general who reports to parliament on what has been found. I was advised that we don't just drop documents on the floor of Yes. And I'm telling you I was advised so right honorable speaker and honorable colleagues I would want to imagine that all the money that was audited the auditor general can give a report on that.
He has finished. You're putting an order on who?
>> Madame speaker.
>> He has finished.
>> Madame speaker and and under the constitution.
>> He finished.
>> No, he gave. He's my good friend. He's my good friend.
>> He finished.
>> And honorable members.
>> The chief adviser to government.
>> Honorable members.
Honorable members, I now put a question that the supplementary expendure schedule number five for financial year 2025 2026 and the contra the eyes have it. The committee of supply Honorable members kindly seat.
Am I sign Francis?
total recurrent expenditure and a supplementary expenditure schedule number five for the financial year 2025 2026.
Honorable members, I propose a question that a total sum of Uganda shillings 894 billion 548,18 83,58 shillings be approved as a total recurrent expendure and at the supplementary expendure schedule Number five for financial year 2025 2026.
Those in favor say on the contrary n.
>> The eyes have it.
Honorable members, I now put a question that the total sum of Uganda shillings 894 billion 548,183,58 shillings be approved as a total current expenditure and the supplemental expenditure. Number five for financial year 2025 2026.
Those in favor say the contrary name.
>> The eyes have it total development expenditure and a supplementary expenditure schedule number five for the financial year 2025 2026.
>> Can I have order?
>> Can I have order?
Honorable members, I propose a question that the total sum of Uganda shillings 210 billion 614,540,89 shillings be approved as a total development expenditure and a supplement mental expenditure schedule number five for financial year 2025 2026.
Those in favor say on the cont.
>> The eyes have it.
Honorable members, I now put a question.
that a total sum of Uganda shillings >> 210 billion 614 million 540,89 shillings be approved as a total development expenditure under the supplemental expendure budget schedule number five for financial year 2025 2026 Six. Those in favor say the contrary. Nay. I >> The eyes have it.
>> Grand total supplementary expenditure and a supplementary expenditure schedule number five for the financial year 2025 2026.
>> Honorable members, I am going to miss some of you so much in the 12th parliament.
You're such amazing guys.
Honorable members, I propose a question that a grand total a grand total sum of Uganda shillings 1 trillion 105 billion 1062 million 724,000 367 Seven shillings be approved as a grand total and a supplementary expenditure schedule number five for 2026 2020 2025 2026 under the various votes that were deliberated or mentioned by the Minister of Finance and under the votes that are in the schedule. Those in favor say on the contrary and nay. I >> the eyes have it.
Honorable members, I now put a question that a grant to sum of Uganda shillings 1 trillion 105 billion 162,724,367 shillings be approved as a grand total supplemental expenditure and a supplemental expenditure schedule for number five for financial year 2025 2026 for the various votes that are in the schedule. Those in favor say the contra have it >> motion for the house to resume.
Honorable Minister, >> right honorable chair, I beg to move a motion for the house to resume and the committee of supply reports there too.
>> I put a question that the house resumes and the committee of supply reports there too. Those in favor say the contrary name. The eyes have it. Stand up. Standing.
Please seat. Please seat.
report of the committee of supply.
Honorable Minister, >> Madame Speaker and honorable colleagues, I beg to report that the committee of supply has considered the supplementary schedule number five for financial year 2025 2026 amounting to Uganda shillings 1 trillion 105 billion 162 million 700 24, 367 shillings and passed it without amendments.
>> Motion for adoption of the report of the committee of supply. Honorable minister.
>> Uh, right honorable speaker, I beg to move a motion that the report from the committee of supply for schedule number five of financial year 2025 2026 be adopted.
I put a question that the report of the committee of supply be adopted by this house. Those in favor sign the controll have it honorable member. Thank you. I'll instruct the cler to to capture the details and supply it to finance.
Next item. Item 12 on the order paper.
Bill, second reading, the protection of sovereignity bill 2026.
Thank you. Right honorable speaker.
Honorable members, you recall that on Wednesday 15th, 2026, the Minister of Internal Affairs tabled the Protection of Sovereignty Bill 2026 for the first reading.
Pursuant to rule 135 of the rules of procedia of parliament, the bill was referred to a joint committee of defense and internal affairs and legal and parliamentary affairs.
The committee has concluded the consideration of the bill and is ready to report and pursuant to rule 1361 of the rules of procedure.
I will invite the minister to move his motion for the second reading before I will give you to bring your issue. Please honorable let him first move then I'll give you to bring your issue.
>> Okay.
Thank you Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker, the bill you have invited this house to consider is a government bill.
I saw a tweet by the head of government and a letter signed by retired general Yoi Kabuta Musevani Tibuhabura >> that's not part of the names.
So in his letter, rightable speaker, he actually disowned >> L. Is it in his letter?
>> Yes.
>> Can I submit? Right. Honorable.
>> No, I want us to talk with evidence. Can we lay the letter on table?
>> I came prepared. Madame speaker, here is a copy of the letter. I am tableling it.
>> I have never seen a letter from state house in white.
Madame Speaker, this is a copy of the letter and I am tableling it. Normally we table documents then they can be processed and authenticated and so on.
But let me raise the point I was raising. Madame speaker in this letter he disowned the bill that was tabled by the minister of state for internal affairs. In fact he was appalled wondering what it is that we were debating. Also what bothered me Madame Speaker in his letter he said he called the two chairpersons of committees regarding this bill. I don't know how procedurally that gets to be correct that now the executive gets to me directly because it should be you madam speaker to call chairpersons of committees guide them and so on but if they are getting guidance from the executive it's a problematic issue.
Madame Speaker, the attorney general and the minister of state for internal affairs went back to the joint committee and they made amendments to majority of the clauses in the bill. Please note for those who have been following amendments to majority of the clauses in the bill. For all intents and purposes, Madame Speaker and colleagues, this was now a new bill for all intents and purposes.
And and by the way, there's precedents that have been set by this house even in the previous parliament where >> honorable members, I want you to listen to Lope Lope is saying after >> let me actually say what I am saying.
I'm glad you are protecting me from some noisy politics.
>> After this becomes a new bill, what I would only ask, did the new bill change the objective of the old bill?
You >> Madame Speaker, and I'm glad you're asking that question because the entire foundation of the bill was torn apart. And no wonder the initiator >> is a procedure procedure. I I rose procedurally. Madam speaker procedure cannot counter procedure.
>> No, I gave you space to speak. Not >> but I I raised >> is an order.
>> An order cannot honorable, you've been around for some time. You know that procedure takes precedence. You're going to mislead the new MPs who are coming in the 12th parliament.
They they need to know and learn from people.
>> Let let me proceed in honest. Madame Speaker, >> but honorable l I want to put this on record that we do not have a new bill.
We only have one bill. I am the custodian of the law in parliament.
If the president wanted to make a change in that in the law in the bill, the president ought to have informed me. I am not aware of that. It has not come to my attention.
I am the one processing the bills here.
So if he sent it for public and if he called the chairpersons is one of the Ugandans whom we should consult.
Madame speaker I'm glad you're saying you were not informed and that's part of the problem I'm raising. Why was this house not informed? Especially because majority of the closes were amended.
Madame Speaker, please protect me from noisy colleagues.
>> You you always tell us that this is not in market.
>> Colleagues, please let honorable Lob finish.
Let honorable Lom finish his submission.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no. Honorable members, let's be calm.
I am the custodian of the law here. I don't have a new law. I don't have a new bill. So after honorable has finished, I will ask the minister to move his bill. You finish.
Thank you.
So as I was saying, this is me saying and you will rule and guide for all intents and purposes.
As far as I am concerned, this then became a new bill because majority of the clauses in the bill were changed and there's precedents where ministers have been told no those so many amendments just to withdraw the bill and reintroduce it. Perhaps what the minister for internal affairs and attorney general should have done was to withdraw this bill.
>> Honorable my madam speaker, you're not even allowing me to submit. Honorable let me submit. You're the one going to rule.
>> Please honorable my brother. Honorable Lob. Honorable love. Honorable lo.
Can I have order?
Can I have order?
We have We have now started debating in anticipation.
We don't know what the bill is. When the minister moves his bill, that's when we can reject.
Hh.
Please make my work easy.
No, you leave honorable long to finish.
Switch on.
Madame Speaker, actually I am seeking to make your work easier. really if you capture what it is that I'm saying because they are moving it for the second time and for me what I was saying is he should have been moving to withdraw the bill. That's my opinion and you're going to give your ruling madame speaker. So I no but they called for reading of the bill for second and third reading.
>> Okay.
>> So let let me finish the issue that for me I am raising.
>> Okay.
>> Madame speaker also holders.
>> What is the procedial matter that you are raising now?
>> So the the the proced matter I'm raising is shouldn't the minister of internal affairs be withdrawing his bill and then he goes back for consultation.
>> Can I answer that first? Can I answer that first? Maybe it will form your second question that the Minister of Internal Affairs should be moving his motion for the second reading because as far as I know I have not been given another motion. I only have one motion.
So you will move your sec motion for the second reading.
Thank you, Madam Speaker, and I'm glad on record you have said you were not notified of a second one. That's something we are going to interrogate because like I'm saying, as far as some of us are concerned, it's a second one.
Honorable speaker, the committee report to this bill here leaked and it is in the public domain.
It was first shared on our parliament platforms. Media houses have shared it.
It is all over speaker on 18th of January 2023 you were seated in the chair you seated in and I was standing on this very microphone. I was chairperson of Kosas.
I rose to present a committee report for Kosas on Uganda Airlines and you said right honorable speaker I want to quote you verbatim what was on the answer.
You said there was a leakage of the Uganda Airlines report. A property of this parliament cannot leak and we continue debating on it.
Those were your exact words captured only the answerable speaker this report has leaked. So given that precedent which you said are we going to go ahead and debate this leaked report?
>> Thank you.
>> Because the president was set by yourself.
First of all, honorable members in the VIP gallery, I want to introduce honorable MP from Buende.
You're most welcome, honorable Naku Fiona, the elect for workers. Most welcome, Fiona Naku.
And then we have honorable SEA Good Robert representing people with disability national.
You're also most welcome. I have honorable MMB Miriam and honorable Emily Otat.
Honorable members, I want to refer you to rule 14.
The report of the committee on bills shall and I'm saying shall be uploaded on the parliamentary information system for the information of members before the report is laid on table that is 214A.
This report that was uploaded had my signature.
I even said please place it on the order paper with my ver able signature.
The report of airlines that got out did not have my signature. I am the only one who can sanction a document to be uploaded which I did. So the report was not leaked out. Can you move your motion?
Right honorable speaker and honorable members, in keeping with rule 130 of the rules of procedure of this parliament, I beg to move that the bill entitled the protection of sovereignty bill 2026 be read the second time.
>> Seconded Seconded by the vice president of Republic of Uganda, honorable Jessica Alupo, retired. Honorable Prime Minister, honorable Navajo, honorable sec second Haj. Third, third government chief whip, minister of defense, minister of inter of security, minister of ICT, minister of finance, minister of works, minister of of sports and the hollow house on this side.
and and part part of that house, part of the other side including Rogayo.
Thank you. Thank you. Would you want to speak to your motion?
Right honorable speaker and honorable members, can I first have a justification before you you bring the procedure?
Right honorable speaker and honorable members, the object of this bill is that um the country faces a number of challenges which threaten our ability to self-govern in the absence of a sovereign and specific law which this law seeks to address. And these include uh preventing undue external influence uh regulating foreign funding, safeguarding national security, filling legal gaps and managing digital misinformation. I beg to move.
>> Thank you.
Honorable members, I want to provide some guidance in this.
Honor members, the the chairpersons of the committees have prepared the report and I wish to guide as follows.
From the time the bill was tabled for the first reading, there's been a very remarkable public interest in it.
A review of the committee report reveals that more than 60 step witnesses were accorded opportunity to present their views on the bill including persons and institutions.
these answers and questions on whether there was sufficient public consultation or not.
I commend the committee for upholding our cardinal principle of public participation.
Two, there was a considerable debate on the content of the bill, notably the definition of the word foreigner, the scope of application of this bill, the regulatory prudence envisaged in administration and functions, the proposed penalties, the criminal the criminal offenses regul regulations of foreign policies, registration of agents of foreigners, declaration of foreign funding and ministerial powers among others.
I have reviewed the report. The committee has established that the contentious matters have been exhaustively handled and addressed as per the public interest.
The definition of a foreigner for instance was initially brought in a way that was not appealing to the people but the committee has handled now I want I want members there's no procedure I'm giving you guidance I know I'm touching on your minorities honorable members I am giving doing 30 minutes for the major report to be presented and I am saying 30 minutes where is the chair and I will also give I am aware that is a minority report it Doesn't matter whether minorities or minority.
I am also giving the minority or minorities.
30 minutes.
If you have 10 minorities, you'll divide 30 minutes by 10 and you'll have three.
Honorable chair and answered.
I want timing.
Let him read his report then you'll bring pro. I don't want you to waste his time. I know you you want to you want to exercise your law that you're learning now. You first wait first wait first wait ah first wait I have given you 30 minutes.
>> Thank you. Right honorable speaker.
Right honorable speaker.
For the record, my name is Wilson Kaj, member of parliament's constituency and chairperson of defense and internal affairs committee. I'll be assisted by my colleague the chap honorable Baka Steven Mugabi, chairperson legal and parliamental affairs. May I take the honor to to lay on the table the minutes of the committee the joint committees while processing and considering this report. Thank youable speaker.
>> Indeed, I'll take the 30 minutes. But honorable speaker, on Wednesday 15th April 2026, the protection of civility bill 2026 was read for the first time under rule 135, one of the rules of procedure of parliament.
You referred to the joint committee made up of committees of defense and internal affairs and the committee on legal and parliamentary affairs for scrutiny and rep. We are now reporting under the same rule of procedure. Right honorable speaker, the joint committee here referred to as the committee has examined the bill taking into account submissions from stakeholders and now presents this report.
This report sets the committee's analysis of the bill's objectives, the key provisions, likely effects together with a synthesis of stakeholder views and committee's recommendations to parliament. The object of the bill, the object of the bill is to enact a law that seeks to provide for the protection of the sovereignity of the people of Uganda.
Two, to designate the department responsible for peace and security and the responsible entity for the registration and regulation of agents of foreigners. Three, to provide for the protection of the sovereignity of Uganda and provide for the registration of agents of foreigners and to regulate the funding and any other assistance to agents of foreigners and for the related matters. defects in the existing law.
The bill identifies principle defect in the existing law framework legal framework as the absence of a specific law operationalizing the protection of Uganda's sovereignity which has allowed continued external interference in the government policies and programs. In particular, it points out the increasing influence of foreign actors and their agents in shaping policy and development priorities, often through conditional grant, conditional funding and parallel programs that conflict with national objectives. It further highlights inadequate regulation of civil society organizations especially those receiving foreign funding leading to concerns about transparency and alignment with national objectives. Additionally, the bill notes the growing use of digital platforms, foreign actors to by foreign actors spread misinformation and incite social discord, collectively undermining Uganda's ability to selfgovern independently and safeguard its political, economic and social stability. Right honorable speaker, what method did we use? Methodology In considering the protection of sovereign bill 2026, the committee undertook an extensive and transparent stakeholder engagement process to ensure broad participation. Public notices were published in the dailies I mean vision and monitor on 17th April. We invited memoranda and views from all interested parties. This was to facilitate meaningful input. The committee suspended the seings for one week to allow stakeholders adequate time to prepare and submit written memoranda upon resumption on 24th of April. Right honorable speaker and honorable colleagues stakeholders who had expressed interest were accorded opportunity to present their views. The committee engaged them directly seeking clarifications where necessary. In total, and this is unprecedented, right, honorable speaker and honorable colleagues, in total, the committee interfaced with 224 stakeholders clusted clustered under 60 groups drawn from diverse sectors in the diaspora. The global forum Uganda Diaspora Council whose memoranda included views of Ugandans drawn from 32 countries across all regions that gave their perspectives on the bill.
In addition to the hearing from stakeholders who appeared before the committee, the committee also took into account the perspectives shared by his excellency the president in his guidance to the nation through his letter particularly that was addressed to the bas regarding the bill.
Following these engagements, right honorable speaker, the committee held further sittings during which the landed attorney general responded to the stakeholder concerns and proposed refinements to the bill. The interactive process ensured that the review incorporated both legal scrutiny and practical implementation considerations.
This structured approach characterized by open invitations, dedicated submission time, inclusive hearings, responsible dialogue demonstrates that the committee's work was informed by a wide participatory and national representative consultation process.
The stakeholders the committee interfaced with include the following. It is important right honorable speaker that this goes on record.
We have clustered them like this. We had stakeholders under government and public institutions. These are actors with statutory mandates that include Bank of Uganda, Financial Intelligence Authority, National Planning Authority, Uganda Human Rights Commission, the parliamentary committees.
We also had another cluster of legal and professional bodies and organizations that focused on the law like Uganda Law Society, like East African Law Society, the Law Development Center, Center for Constitutional Governance that had in their in their entrage member former members and former ministers of government, independent legal and practical practitioner. ers who forwarded multiple submissions. We had political actors and movements, political parties or politically affiliated formations. These include alliance for national transformation, forum for democratic change, national unity platform, the people's front for freedom and for the record the answer must capture this right honorable speaker that Uganda people's congress appeared and gave their views and that the leader of opposition also appeared and gave his views.
I'm mentioning it for the capture of the handset.
We also entertained we also entertained private sector and business associations that include the Chamber of Commerce, Campa Traders Association, Campara City Traders Association, Uganda Small Scale Industries Association, Uganda National Traders Association, the Gen Z's Business Owners Association, Innovation Village, the Startup Ecosystem, and the Independent Private Sector Consultants.
We did not stop there. We entertained financial, insurance, economic sector actors. These include the sector specific institutional stakeholders that include Uganda bankers association, supervised financial institutions like banks, mobile money operators via sector uh submissions. We also entertained payment service providers association.
We also entertained Uganda Forex Bureau and money remittancies association.
They too appeared and gave their views.
We also considered digital telecom media actors in communication broadcasting and digital economy include communication sector operators, national association of broadcasters, media practitioners, journalists and journalism practitioners. We also entertained civil society and non-government organizations both domestic and inter international civic actors that include anti-corruption coalition of Uganda foundation for human rights initiative legal aid service providers association the Rotary of Uganda women proono initiative country directors of international network and various national nos also submitted we also entertained international organizations and development actors under this martinat organizations and international cooperation actors. These include United Nations country team, international NGO community collectively represented. We did not stop there right honorable speaker and honorable colleagues. We entertained labor, religious and social institutions that include not to that include interreligious council of Uganda that include Muslim organizations coalition and other faith-based organizations. We entertained health scientific community and public health research institutions eg Uganda Medical Association, Uganda Virus Research Institute, people's living with HIV advocacy groups. We also entertained education and academic sector that include mccary university academic staff association universities and academic researchers student groups and members of the guild also submitted national union of disabled persons of Uganda Uganda lawyers voice on climate change gender rights and advocacy climate advocacy groups we also entertained diaspora transnational communities Ugandan actors, the global forum. This is an organization that groups all Ugandans in the diaspora, the CHO association, NUP diaspora chapter, individual diaspora submissions. We went further and entertained professional and individual submissions. These are unaffiliated and crosscutting independent consultants, individual citizens, business professionals, researchers. Right honorable speaker, we consulted documents.
Consequently, the committee recommendations reflect a balanced synthesis of stakeholder perspectives in the key findings and salient observations. Right honorable speaker, permit me to present key findings and salient observations on the Sovereign Protection Bureau of 2026.
Introductory consideration looking at the scope and interpretation of clause two. Before presenting its findings, the committee found it prudent to clarify the key interpretive issue of clause two which is application of the bill. close to sits at the core of the legislative framework and it defines the reach of the law and it determines who is regulated and what circumstances and for what conduct. The committee reviewed the honorable attorney general's comments noting that clause two limits the bill to specific activities tied to foreign influence. According to the landed attorney general interpretation, the bill does not apply to a persons generally to all persons generally that it applies only with persons acting as agents of foreign actors and that even then only where such a persons engage in specific conduct including influencing government policy, political processes or public decision making for the interest of foreigners. The attorney general clarified that clause two is meant to limit the bill not to expand it. He guided that it applies only to agents of foreign actors and only when they engage in specific influence related activities eg affecting government policy policies or public decision making. In addition, the learned attorney general noted that the bill is activity based not identity based. So ordinary transactions like remittances, businesses, family support are excluded unless tied to regulated influence. On this reading, the bill presented a targeted regulatory instrument aimed at structured foreign influence operations rather than legitimate international engagement. However, the committee observes that this interpretation while persuasive as a matter of policy intent is not shared by the majority of stakeholders. There is a gap between the AG's intended narrow scope and how the bill is actually drafted. When clause 2 is read together with broad definitions in clause one and the expansive list of activities including concepts such as influencing public opinion and activities that the minister may prescribe, stakeholders interpreted the bill as having a much wider um practical effect. The East African Law Society, for example, in their submission warned that the term agent of a foreigner in close to could apply to regular economic, professional and family connections such as employees of foreign businesses, traders and those receiving support from relatives abroad. The law development center noted that in close that close to does not distinguish harmful actions from lawful ones. So the people could be held liable simply because of their associations not because they caused any actual harm. The this divergence right honorable speaker and honorable colleagues reveals a fundamental issue. The intended limitations of close two are not sufficiently clear on the face of the law creating uncertainty as the as to the boundary between harmful foreign influence and legitimate activity. While the aton general maintains that clause 2 limits application specific regul regulated activities, stakeholders consistently note that this limitation is not clearly reflected in drafting.
Therefore, the committee found that the line between harmful foreign interference and legitimate activities is unclear. Close to is meant as a safeguard but not effectively to limit the bill. This gap policy and the law shapes all the committee subsequent findings.
5.2 Understanding sovereignity. We looked at what the 1995 constitution says versus what the bill proposes.
Sovereignity under the 1995 constitution has amended. This committee Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Madame Speaker, the bill you have invited this house to consider is a government bill.
I saw a tweet by the head of government and a letter signed by retired General Yoi Kabuta Musevani Timabura >> that's not part of the names.
So in his letter, right speaker, he actually disowned >> L. Is it in his letter?
>> Yes.
>> Can I submit? Right. Honorable.
>> No, I want us to talk with evidence. Can we lay the letter on table?
>> I came prepared. Madame speaker, here is a copy of the letter. I am tableling it.
>> I have never seen a letter from state house in white.
Madame Speaker, this is a copy of the letter and I am tableling it. Normally we table documents then they can be processed and authenticated and so on.
But let me raise the point I was raising. Madame speaker in this letter he disowned the bill that was tabled by the minister of state for internal affairs. In fact he was appalled wondering what it is that we were debating. Also what bothered me madame speaker in his letter he said he called the two chairpersons of committees regarding this bill. I don't know how procedurally that gets to be correct that now the executive gets to meddle directly because it should be you madam speaker to call chairpersons of committees guide them and so on but if they are getting guidance from the executive it's a problematic issue.
Madame Speaker, the attorney general and the minister of state for internal affairs went back to the joint committee and they made amendments to majority of the clauses in the bill. Please note for those who have been following amendments to majority of the clauses in the bill.
For all intents and purposes, Madame Speaker and colleagues, this was now a new bill for all intents and purposes.
And and by the way, there's precedents that have been set by this house even in the previous parliament where >> honorable members, I want you to listen to Lope. Lope is saying after >> let let me actually say what I am saying. I'm glad you are protecting me from noisy politics.
>> After this becomes a new bill, what I would only ask, did the new bill change the objective of the old bill?
You >> Madame Speaker, and I'm glad you're asking that question because the entire foundation of the bill was torn apart and no wonder the initiator >> is a procedure procedure. Um I I rose procedurally madam speaker procedure cannot counter >> procedure I gave you space to speak not >> but I I raised >> is an order >> an order cannot honorable you've been around for some time you know that procedure takes precedence you're going to mislead the new MPs who are coming in the 12th parliament they they need to know and learn from people >> let let me proceed in honest madame speaker >> but honorable I want to put this on record that we do not have a new bill. We only have one bill. I am the custodian of the law in parliament.
If the president wanted to make a change in that in the law in the bill, the president ought to have informed me. I am not aware of that. It has not come to my attention.
I am the one processing the bills here.
So if he sent it for public and if he called the chairpersons is one of the Ugandans whom we should consult.
Madam speaker I'm glad you're saying you were not informed and that's part of the problem I'm raising. Why was this house not informed? Especially because majority of the clauses were amended.
Madame Speaker, please protect me from noisy colleagues.
>> You you always tell us this is not a matter.
>> Colleagues, please let honorable Lob finish let honorable Lob finish his submission.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no. Honorable members, please be calm.
I am the custodian of the law here. I don't have a new law. I don't have a new bill. So after honorable has finished, I will ask the minister to move his bill. You finish.
Thank you.
So as I was saying, this is me saying and you will rule and guide. for all intents and purposes as far as I am concerned this then became a new bill because majority of the clauses in the bill were changed and there's precedents where ministers have been told no those so many amendments just to withdraw the bill and reintroduce it perhaps what the minister for internal affairs and attorney general should have done was to withdraw this bill >> honorable my madam speaker you're not even allowing me to submit let me submit you're the one going to rule >> please honorable my Brother, honorable love. Honorable love.
Honorable lo.
Can I have order?
Can I have order?
We have We have now started debating in anticipation.
We don't know what the bill is. When the minister moves his bill, that's when we can reject.
Eh, please make my work easy.
I know you leave honorable love to finish.
Switch on.
Madame Speaker, actually I am seeking to make your work easier. really if you capture what it is that I'm saying because they are moving it for the second time and for me what I was saying is he should have been moving to withdraw the bill. That's my opinion and you're going to give your ruling madame speaker. So I no but they called for reading of the bill for second and third reading.
>> Okay.
>> So let let me finish the issue that for me I am raising.
>> Okay.
>> Madame speaker also stakeholders.
>> What is the procedure matter that you are raising now?
>> So the the the procedure matter I'm raising is shouldn't the minister of internal affairs be withdrawing his bill and then he goes back for consultation.
>> Can I answer that first? Can I answer that first? Maybe it will form your second question that the Minister of Internal Affairs should be moving his motion for the second reading because as far as I know I have not been given another motion. I only have one motion.
So you will move your sec motion for the second reading.
Thank you, Madam Speaker. And I'm glad on record you have said you were not notified of a second one. That's something we are going to interrogate because like I'm saying, as far as some of us are concerned, it's a second one.
Honorable speaker, the committee report to this bill here leaked and it is in the public domain.
It was first shared on our parliament platforms. media houses have shared it.
It is all over. Honorable speaker, on 18th of January 2023, you were seated in the chair you seated in and I was standing on this very microphone. I was chairperson of Kosas.
I rose to present a committee report for Kosas on Uganda Airlines and you said, right honorable speaker, I want to quote you verbatim what was on the answer.
You said there was a leakage of the Uganda Airlines report. A property of this parliament cannot leak and we continue debating on it.
Those were your exact words captured on the answerable speaker this report has leaked. So given that precedent which you said, are we going to go ahead and debate this leaked report?
>> Thank you.
>> Because the precedent was set by yourself.
First of all, honorable members in the VIP gallery, I want to introduce honorable MP from Buende.
You're most welcome honorable Fiona, the Alex for workers.
Most welcome Fiona Naku.
And then we have honorable sea good Robert representing people with disability national. You're also most welcome. I have honorable matebe Miriam and honorable Emily Otat.
Honorable members, I want to refer you to rule 14.
The report of the committee on bills shall and I'm saying shall be uploaded on the parliamentary information system for the information of members before the report is laid on table that is 214A.
This report that was uploaded had my signature.
I even said please place it on the order paper with my ver able signature.
The report of got out did not have my signature. I am the only one who can sanction a document to be uploaded which I did. So the report was not leaked out. Can you move your motion?
Right honorable speaker and honorable members, in keeping with rule 130 of the rules of procedure of this parliament, I beg to move that the bill entitled the protection of sovereignty bill 2026 be read the second time.
Uh seconded Seconded by the vice president of Republic of Uganda, Honorable Jessica Alupo, retired.
Simon, tell us what's coming up.
>> Well, sovereignty bill. Are you sovereign yourself for starters?
>> Aren't you a foreigner?
NBS front line.
>> At the twilight of the 11th Parliament, a bill meant to define Uganda's sovereignty is instead redefining the national conversation. The protection of the sovereign bill 26 as currently drafted risks reversing three decades of successful financial development through liberalization that has sustained economic growth.
>> A letter from the president Yorimi now sets the tone measured cautionary and mistakably distancing. The president urges restraint, sovereignty, he says, must remain about policy independence, not control over private enterprise, not interference in how Ugandans move their money. Yet in just under two weeks since its first reading, the protection of sovereignty bill has raced through parliament fasttracked to committee level gathering public opinion amid growing unease. Warning of economic sabotage, concerns over financial freedoms, questions over intent at the heart of it >> is passing the way it is on price stability because of the depreciation of the currency that is unintended consequence of this bill. We are likely to have a deficiency currency and the path through of imported items into the domestic prices is going to raise prices significantly.
The fear that the bill stretches beyond sovereignty into the lifeblood of Uganda's free economy. The outcry appears to have reached state house.
Amendments are now on the table. A revised bill taking shape under pressure. Has public pressure forced a retreat? Or is this just the beginning of a longer battle? This is the front line.
Soul television feuno.
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