Politics 23 April 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
CSOs Warn Sovereignty Bill Could Choke Karamoja's Development
Civil society organizations in Karamoja have condemned the Protection of Sovereignty Bill, warning it could cut off vital donor funding worth USD 70-90 million and disrupt cross-border trade essential for the region's survival. They argue the legislation threatens the Karamoja Regional Development Plan and risks labeling local economic systems as foreign threats. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/sovereignty-bill-will-suffocate-karamoja-csos-5433942
Civil society organizations (CSOs) in Uganda’s Karamoja sub-region have strongly opposed the Protection of Sovereignty Bill, claiming it would severely hinder local development efforts.
In a joint statement, the groups highlighted the potential loss of USD 70 to 90 million in donor funding—equivalent to hundreds of billions of Ugandan shillings—for key areas like education, health, food security, natural resources, and peacebuilding.
The CSOs pointed out that the bill could undermine the Karamoja Regional Development Plan (KRDP) for 2025-2035, which anticipates 20% funding from donors, 24% from the private sector, and 55% from government. They noted the bill’s funding cap of Shs400 million would jeopardize support for vulnerable areas like Karamoja.
Karamoja’s economy depends heavily on cross-border interactions with Kenya and South Sudan, particularly livestock trade that generates millions of dollars yearly. For instance, in 2018, USD 1 million was recorded in trade between Kenya and Uganda, with 70% of livestock from districts like Amudat sold to Kenya, supporting household remittances and small businesses.
The organizations expressed fears that the bill might misinterpret these essential survival mechanisms as external threats, stifling the region’s unique needs.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)