By Kabuye Ronald
The Justice Forum (JEEMA) has called on Parliament to withdraw the proposed “Sovereignty Bill,” warning that in its current form it risks undermining civil liberties while failing to address Uganda’s real security challenges.
In a statement issued by party spokesperson Dr. Swaib Kagwa Nseko, JEEMA argued that the bill “does not protect Uganda’s sovereignty,” but instead “threatens civil liberties, criminalizes the diaspora with billions as fine, and distracts from real security gaps.”
The party emphasized that genuine sovereignty cannot be achieved through restrictive laws targeting citizens. “Real sovereignty is not built by policing citizens. It is built by preparing them,” the statement reads.
JEEMA raised concern over what it described as the long-standing neglect of Article 17(2) of the 1995 Constitution, which requires all able-bodied citizens to undergo military training when called upon to defend the Constitution and the country’s territorial integrity. According to the party, the provision has remained effectively dormant for more than three decades.
“For over 30 years, Article 17(2) has been deliberately redundant. Government has refused to train citizens to defend the Constitution, yet it rushes to punish them,” the statement said.
Addressing fears of foreign influence, JEEMA argued that restricting financial flows is not a sustainable solution. Instead, the party called for strengthening citizens’ understanding of constitutional values. “If there’s genuine fear of external money, the answer is not to ban money. The answer is to build citizens so grounded in constitutional values that their loyalty cannot be bought,” the statement added.
As an alternative, JEEMA proposed the establishment of a National Civic Defence Program. The initiative would be voluntary and community-based, focusing on constitutional literacy, first aid, disaster response, cybersecurity, and basic defense skills. The party also recommended involving Ugandans in the diaspora through embassies, rather than penalizing them.
The proposal includes provisions for strict parliamentary oversight to prevent abuse and ensure accountability.
JEEMA concluded by urging lawmakers to reject what it termed “shortcuts that erode freedoms” and instead invest in building a prepared and informed citizenry.
“True sovereignty means a prepared citizenry, not a policed citizenry,” Dr. Nseko said.
