Why Uganda has declared two foreign nationals persona non grata
Ugandan authorities have moved to declare two foreign nationals persona non grata, accusing them of illegally interfering in the country’s internal affairs and supporting activities the government describes as subversive.
Those named are Jeffrey Smith, an American activist and founder of Vanguard Africa, and Robert Amsterdam, a UK-based lawyer who runs Amsterdam & Partners LLP, according to senior security and diplomatic sources.
A government source said the decision was taken with immediate effect and warned that the two should not return to Uganda. “Smith and Amsterdam have proven themselves to be enemies of Uganda through destructive activism,” one senior official told local media.
Allegations of political interference
Authorities accuse the pair of moving beyond advocacy into direct political action against the Ugandan state. Officials claim they have promoted narratives aimed at delegitimising government institutions and inciting unrest, including by amplifying messages from groups considered subversive under Ugandan law.
The government also alleges the two have distributed what it calls defamatory and negative content about Uganda through foreign media and international platforms. “These are coordinated media offensives meant to tarnish Uganda’s image globally,” A source told Chimpreports news.
Ugandan security officials further accuse Smith and Amsterdam of lobbying foreign governments and international financial institutions to block development funding to Uganda. Authorities say such efforts amount to economic sabotage designed to weaken investor confidence and harm the country’s growth prospects.
Sanctions and ICC lobbying
The government also claims the two foreigners have supported calls for sanctions against Ugandan officials and pushed for international investigations, including potential referrals to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
“Seeking sanctions and international prosecutions against serving Ugandan officials is not neutral legal work,” an official is quoted.
The accusations follow a dossier circulated internationally by Amsterdam’s law firm, which called for punitive action against Uganda over alleged post-election repression.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
