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Uganda copying Russia and China with new bill designed to crush dissent, say critics | Global development | The Guardian Skip to main content Skip to navigation Skip to navigation Uganda’s coat of arms. Critics of the proposed protection of sovereignty bill call it the ‘very definition of a coup d’état’. Photograph: Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty Images View image in fullscreen Uganda’s coat of arms. Critics of the proposed protection of sovereignty bill call it the ‘very definition of a coup d’état’. Photograph: Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty Images Uganda copying Russia and China with new bill designed to crush dissent, say critics New law proposes up to 20 years in prison for promoting ‘foreign interests’, and restricts those who work with or are funded by overseas partners Ugandan opposition figures, human rights organisations and legal experts have condemned a sweeping bill that proposes up to 20 years in prison for promoting “foreign interests”, and imposes restrictions on a broad range of people and organisations that work with or receive funding from overseas partners. The protection of sovereignty bill 2026 is being fast tracked through parliament, with debate expected to conclude before the presidential swearing-in on 12 May. Internal affairs state minister Gen David Muhoozi told a parliamentary committee on 23 April that the bill would strengthen safeguards against foreign influence that could destabilise national security, economic stability and social cohesion. But critics have said that, like similar foreign agent laws brought in by other authoritarian governments, the proposed legislation is designed to restrict civil society, media and dissent by cutting off funding that supports activities such as legitimate political opposition and holding the government to account. “This law is a copy and paste of Russian and Chinese laws adopted to liquidate opposition and civil society organisations,” said Joel Ssenyonyi, Uganda’s leader of the opposition . “Passing this
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