A high-stakes legal battle over regional integration and state sovereignty has opened at the East African Court of Justice. A coalition of four civil society organizations from Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania has filed a formal challenge against Uganda’s Protection of Sovereignty Act, arguing it violates the East African Community (EAC) Treaty.
The lawsuit targets 25 provisions in the Ugandan statute. The applicants—the Centre for Environmental Research and Agriculture Innovations (CERAI) and Youth for Green Communities (YGC) from Uganda, Natural Justice from Kenya, and the Organization for Community Engagement (OCE) from Tanzania—want the tribunal to suspend the law and compel Kampala to align its domestic legislation with regional obligations.
The litigation centers on friction between domestic governance and regional commitments. The statute regulates entities receiving international funding or conducting policy work. Civil society representatives argue these rules impede cross-border cooperation, blocking organizations from accessing foreign technical assistance and running joint programs.
Applicants state the restrictions imperil collaborative initiatives in environmental conservation, sustainable development, human rights, and the transition to clean energy.
The petition cites foundational EAC Treaty provisions, including Article 5(3)(g) on cooperation with civil society, and Articles 6(d) and 7(2) on good governance, democracy, transparency, and public participation. It also invokes Article 8, which obligates partner states to foster conditions that achieve community objectives, and Article 127, which guarantees an enabling environment for civil society involvement.
Regional leaders emphasized that cross-border partnerships are vital for grassroots development. Gerald Barekye, executive director of CERAI, noted his organization collaborates regionally to expand clean energy technologies. He cautioned that legislative barriers threaten developmental momentum across member states.
Richard Sekondo of Tanzania’s OCE added that multi-state advocacy is indispensable for equitable climate action. Ensuring local communities remain engaged in sustainable development, he argued, requires unhindered cross-border coordination. The lawsuit also scrutinizes the East African Community Secretary General. Applicants argue the regional office failed in its oversight duties by not assessing the compatibility of Uganda’s legislation with the EAC Treaty.
The court will deliberate on whether the contested provisions infringe upon regional legal commitments. A definitive ruling could shape how member states balance national security and sovereignty against shared governance and integration.
