When “Sovereignty” Puts LGBTQ+ Support at Risk in Uganda
The law gives the state greater authority to regulate people and organisations considered to be acting on behalf of foreign interests. According to the report, organisations receiving money from abroad may be required to register and disclose their funding. The government says the law protects Uganda’s independence and prevents foreign interference.
LGBTQ+ communities connected to Uganda often depend on trusted organisations for health information, emergency referrals, legal guidance, safety support and community connection. International support can make these services possible where local funding is limited or unsafe.
A donor’s location does not determine whether an organisation’s work is legitimate. The important questions are whether the work is lawful, transparent and beneficial to the community.
From LRUF’s perspective, the central concern is the possibility of selective enforcement. Even where the law contains exemptions, vague ideas such as “foreign interference” could discourage organisations from receiving support or speaking openly.
Uganda has the right to regulate finances, but sovereignty should protect people rather than isolate them from international solidarity. Support from abroad is not automatically political control. It can help vulnerable people access healthcare, legal assistance and protection.
We call for clear rules, independent oversight and due process. Funding regulations must never become another way to silence LGBTQ+ Ugandans or the organisations that support them.
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