The Uganda Law Society (ULS) has launched a UGX 2.31Bn Sovereignty Defence Fund to legally and publicly challenge the recently assented Protection of Sovereignty Bill 2026 which was passed by the 11th parliament on May 5th, 2026.
This was announced on May 14th, 2026, at the 14th Radical New Bar Live public forum hosted by the society at ULS House on John Babiiha Road.
According to ULS Vice President Anthony Asiimwe, the Sovereignty Defence Fund seeks to protect the constitution and the sovereignty that belongs to the people of Uganda.
“Let us defend the sovereignty of our people,” he asserted.
The Vice President said that the law was extremely broad in its wording and could lead to criminalization of the works of legitimate journalists, NGOs, diaspora remittances, international grants and even family relations leaving many Ugandans open to punishment.
The funds raised will be channeled into four primary areas including, public education campaign at UGX 266m, coalition building and diaspora coordination at UGX 550m, high-level advocacy at UGX 78m, and strategic litigation and victim support at UGX 1.22 billion which includes immediate legal assistance at UGX 400m. Donations can be made to the ULS account at Standard Chartered or through mobile money services like MTN and Airtel.
Asiimwe assured the donors that the funds will be used in partnership with the people, media houses, civil societies, and businesses as well as the diaspora to preserve the freedoms of the constitution.
Acting Secretary Ssali Babu emphasized that this is not charity, but partnership, appealing to the public to take the issue seriously because it would eventually affect everyone.
This move comes after the bill was widely rejected in the parliamentary process where over 90 percent of stakeholders opposed the proposal. The Uganda Law Society had warned about the negative implications of the proposed legislation on press freedom, civil society operations, and predictability of business.
According to ULS, they are calling upon all Ugandans to contribute whatever amount of money they can afford since even the smallest contribution will be counted.
“We will audit and account for every shilling donated to us,” Babu promised.
The aim of the Sovereignty Defense Fund is to bring forward constitutional challenges, regional and international advocacy, and immediate legal defence for victims of the proposed law.
ULS said the establishment of this initiative is a measured and legal response to safeguard democracy and rule of law before the window of opportunity is missed.
