Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has clarified the concerns arising from the Sovereignty Bill, which limits the Ugandans from receiving foreign donations and supporting bodies, including churches.
According to Yoweri, the Bill he initiated does not restrict Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) or stop the remittance from Ugandan working abroad.
He reaffirmed that the Sovereignty bill had been misinterpreted and explained that the Bill he initiated was what the whole of Africa fought for since the 1900, except for Ethiopia.
“Of recent, I have noticed a lot of orwaari (noise, kelele), regarding the Sovereignty Bill. Which Sovereignty Bill is the rwaari about? The one I initiated in the Cabinet or another one? The Bill will stop FDIs (Foreign Direct Investments), support for religious bodies from abroad, Remittances from Ugandans working abroad, etc., etc. Really!! That is not the Bill I initiated,” a statement from the Ugandan President dated April 30 read.
Yoweri Museveni explained that the Bill he initiated was based on the need for the country to have independence.
Additionally, the Bill is initiated to enhance sovereignty and decision-making in the policies governing the country.
The Bill addresses the social, economic, and diplomatic issues that are affecting the Ugandan citizens in their daily activities, according to Yoweri.
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Yoweri Museveni’s explanation of the Sovereignty Bill
The Ugandan President clarified that the Bill was initiated in accordance with the Ugandan Constitution and was covered by the sovereignty rule through elections and referenda, as provided in Articles 1(4), 59, and 68 of the Constitution.
On the foreign investments, Yoweri argued that the NRM and Ugandans had made mutual agreement on politics, social, diplomatic, and economic issues, with none of the agreements restricting foreign investments and support.
In addition, he noted that Uganda is a free-market economy that allows citizens to buy and sell foreign exchange at privately operated Forex Bureaus.
Additionally, the Bill did not limit the freedom of the private sector, which is currently helping to strengthen the Ugandan economy.
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Initiated Reforms by the Ugandan President
In clarifying what the Sovereignty Bill accounted for, Yoweri pointed out that he privately defended and resurrected the Ankole Cattle with the support of Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, the president of the Republic of South Africa.
Following the reforms implemented under his government, Yoweri emphasized that the NRM cannot interfere with the freedom of capital movement in Uganda.
Additionally, he stated that the flow of money in and out of Uganda serves as an insurance against corrupt public servants and politicians.
Further, he explained that foreign investments and foreign donations from abroad to the churches were instrumental in the growth and socioeconomic transformation of the country.
Yoweri Museveni has affirmed that he has communicated with the chairpersons of the relevant parliamentary committees, as well as Hamson Obua, to ensure that the Bill focuses on the sovereignty of policy decision-making rather than on areas related to the freedom of transfer of foreign investments and donations.
