Equal Housing, Uganda

Ugandans, know this- Uganda is not short of laws that protect its sovereignty. We already have the Anti-Terrorism Act, the Anti-Money Laundering Act, the Non-Governmental Organisations Act and the Public Order Management Act (which is in itself, controversial) all of which give the State wide and sufficient powers to regulate foreign funding, prevent illicit financial flows, and address any genuine threats to national security. What Uganda faces today is not a gap in the law, but a growing tendency of those in @GovUganda to expand control of the state against the burdened population under the lucid guise of protection. The proposed Protection of Sovereignty Bill, 2026 does not fill a legal vacuum. It risks precipitating an unwarranted climate of fear, where citizens, civil society, and advocates for basic human rights, including those advocating for housing justice and adequate housing, may be branded as foreign agents simply for speaking out. We must ask ourselves the question, if existing laws already provide enforcement tools, what then is the real purpose of this Bill? At a time when Ugandans are grappling with pressing issues like overtaxation, inadequate housing, economic hardship, and accountability in governance , shifting the national conversation to “foreign interference” risks diverting attention from the real struggles of ordinary people. At Equal Housing-Uganda, we stand firm that sovereignty must never be used as a shield against accountability and of those in public offices using public funds. We must reject the notion that people elected and/or appointed into public offices to serve the common people are at liberty to forget that they serve us and are answerable to us, not the other way around. Sovereignty of state lies in a government that listens to the concerns of its people, respects their rights, and upholds the Constitution and subjects itself together with the rest under the reign of the Constitution. It is myopic and unpatriotic for the members of @parliament to even consider entertaining such a Bill on the floor of Parliament. But where is the shame?

1/3 🧵 National human rights institutions are under attack. Together with @MaryLawlorhrds, we warned today about the rise in smear campaigns, judicial harassment, and physical and digital threats against those defending #rights from within these bodies. 🔗ohchr.org/en/press-relea…

Isn't it a Bill that concerns all right thinking Ugandans?

UPC also rejected the provision in Clause 22 (1) that requires prior ministerial approval for any foreign financial or material support exceeding 20,000 currency points (UGX400Million) describing the proposal as unconstitutional because it places an arbitrary and disproportionate restriction on the freedom of assertion and the right to call out a lawful trade or business under Article 40. Muzeyi explained, “By creating an administrative bottleneck with no defined approval timelines, the clause grants the minister unchecked power to decide which business or individuals can access foreign capital or grants. This redundance is clear when considering that Section 14 of the Political Parties and Organisations Act already regulate foreign funding for political entities. Extending this to all individuals and business creates a hostile investment climate that undermines the state's duty to promote economic development.” Photo by Parliament

Great!

Protecting the planet is a shared mission. From daily choices to global initiatives, @UNEP helps you take part in tackling environmental challenges. 🌱 Explore how you, too, can #ActNow: un.org/en/actnow

"When the institutions for selecting judges concentrate power in the hands of one political figure or group, they enable court capture...whereby political, economic, or social actors influence court decisions in favor of their own interests," warns Andrew O’Donohue. muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/article/…

Clause 13 makes it criminal to publish a report or article critiquing Uganda’s economy or security. For instance an article on UPDF’s adventures in DRC which today are being paid for by the tax payer could earn you a 20 year jail term or 4 billion fine.

🚪Disasters don’t knock. 🛑They don’t wait for funding cycles or stop at borders. In Guatemala, shared resilience is getting real: 📡 Real-time early warnings 🤝 Joint risk strategies 🌱 Business stepping up — for purpose, not just profit “Resilience is everyone’s business.”

Urban wetlands are not wastelands but are life-support systems for our cities. They filter and purify water, regulate flooding, cool urban temperatures, and sustain biodiversity that keeps ecosystems resilient. In a rapidly urbanising Uganda, degrading wetlands is not development. It is a direct threat to people, infrastructure, and long-term economic stability. Protecting wetlands is therefore not optional; it is a constitutional and environmental obligation tied to the right to a clean and healthy environment and the realization of adequate housing. Settlements that replace wetlands with concrete only shift the cost to disasters—flooded homes, damaged roads, disease outbreaks, and rising public expenditure. We call for stronger enforcement, restoration, and community-led protection of urban wetlands as critical climate infrastructure. Sustainable cities must work with nature, not against it. @nemaug @min_waterUg @KCCAUG @MoLGUganda, we can take a leaf.

Join us this Wednesday for our 54th #CEPAConvo as we explore Kampala’s Air Crisis: What Does the Air We Breathe Say About Our City? — a digital town hall unpacking the health, equity, and governance challenges behind the air we share. 🔗 Set a reminder: x.com/i/spaces/1lkqr… @PM_AKELLO @KCCAUG #CEPAProgramming

“Lighting enhances the fan journey by ensuring clear wayfinding, safety, and comfort through well-lit access routes, parking areas, and circulation zones.” How #lighting makes the stadium experience begin outside 👉 cities-today.com/industry/how-l… #PartnerContent by Paradox Engineering

@KCCAUG and other city council authorities, please note.

Circular economy solutions are gaining traction in national climate plans (NDCs). 84% of new national climate plans (NDCs) highlight circular economy approaches (compared to 28% in the second-generation NDCs). Get more stats in our explainer: go.undp.org/SPY

A lawyer's prayer: grant me the evidence to prove what I know, the procedure to file it correctly, and the patience for the adjournments.

UN experts concerned over spread & normalisation of intrusive surveillance technologies – call for strengthening of #humanrights safeguards. “Digital surveillance creates environment of fear & exerts chilling effects on fundamental freedoms & civic space.” ohchr.org/en/press-relea…

The Protection of Sovereignty Bill, 2026 exposes a glaring double standard at the heart of government policy. Clauses 6, 7, and 8 reserve governance, policy-making, and service delivery strictly to the State while criminalising citizens, civil society, and even the diaspora for engaging in spaces that government itself dominates without restriction. Then Clause 24 goes further: while Ugandans risk harsh penalties, even up to 20 years in prison, for receiving foreign support, the government continues to receive billions in donor funding under a protected framework with no equivalent sanctions. This is not about sovereignty. It is about control without accountability. You cannot build a national budget dependent on over UGX 24 trillion in foreign aid and, at the same time, criminalise citizens for far smaller financial flows from the same external sources. That is not policy coherence but institutional hypocrisy. If sovereignty were the real concern, the law would apply equally to all actors. Instead, the Bill creates two systems: one that punishes citizens and another that shields the State. That is not protection of sovereignty. It is protection of those in power.

On the 23rd of April 2026, as members of the MLS submitted our formal submission to Parliament of Uganda on the proposed Sovereignty Bill 2026 giving a clause by clause analysis of the same and proposed amendments. We build for the future.

Transformational governance cannot exist without addressing adequate housing as the foundation of dignity. We emphasize that anti-corruption, ethics, and compliance must go beyond institutional rhetoric and translate into equitable access to land, housing, and basic services. When corruption infiltrates urban planning, land administration, and housing delivery systems, it entrenches inequality and denies vulnerable communities their right to safe and adequate shelter. Embedding integrity at the core of governance means ensuring transparency in land allocation, accountability in housing programs, and inclusive decision-making. This is how governance drives not just performance, but real, sustainable value where every Ugandan can live in dignity.

UN experts warn increasing attacks on National Human Rights Institutions weakening ability to fulfill mandates - hinders access to justice & accountability. “This undermines national systems of checks & balances, contributing to erosion of rule of law.” ohchr.org/en/press-relea…

VIDEO: That clause on economic sabotage is basically curtailing free speech.- Phillip Karugaba on the Sovereignty Bill. #NBSMorningBreeze #NBSUpdates