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Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has signed into law a controversial measure aimed at curbing foreign influence, after parliament scaled back provisions that had drawn criticism from financial institutions over potential harm to remittances and development work.
Museveni’s office announced late on Sunday that he had signed the “Protection of Sovereignty” bill, which parliament adopted on May 5. Penalties for violations include up to 10 years in prison and steep cash fines.
The law criminalises promotion of the “interests of a foreigner against the interests of Uganda” and bans anyone working on behalf of foreign interests from developing or implementing policy without government approval.
Rights groups have said such broad language would allow the government to criminalise virtually any form of political opposition. The government has accused critics of exaggerating the bill’s impact.
Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, has regularly decried outside influence in Uganda, accusing domestic political rivals of receiving funding from abroad.
A number of earlier provisions that had drawn criticism from economic institutions were softened in the final legislation.
The requirement that any Ugandan who receives money from overseas register as a foreign agent and report incoming funds was modified to only apply to those who receive money for political purposes that promote foreign interests.
For the East African country, remittances from Ugandans residing overseas constitute a significant source of foreign exchange.
Michael Atingi-Ego, the governor of the Central Bank, issued a warning last month that the initial plan might reduce financial inflows into Uganda and risk depleting foreign exchange reserves, which he described as an “economic disaster for our country.”
The earlier proposal was also criticised by the World Bank, which claimed that it might make a wide range of “routine development activities” criminally liable.
