Ugandan authorities have declared British lawyer Robert Amsterdam and American activist Jeffrey Smith persona non grata, barring them from entering the country with immediate effect, according to senior security and diplomatic sources.
The decision, confirmed on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, targets Amsterdam—widely known as opposition leader Bobi Wine’s international legal counsel—and Smith, whom officials accuse of sustained unlawful interference in Uganda’s internal affairs.
Authorities allege the pair engaged in economic sabotage and supported subversive political activities aimed at undermining the state.
“Smith and Amsterdam have proven to be enemies of Uganda through their destructive activism. The declaration is final,” a senior government official told local outlet ChimpReports.
According to officials, Amsterdam and Smith have lobbied foreign governments, international financial institutions, and multilateral bodies to block or reduce development funding to Uganda—actions the government describes as deliberate attempts to weaken economic growth, investor confidence, and strategic partnerships.
The two are also accused of promoting narratives and activities linked to groups designated as subversive under Ugandan law, spreading messages that incite unrest, and seeking to delegitimize state institutions.
Officials further claim they have used foreign media and international platforms to circulate what the government characterizes as defamatory and inflammatory content about Uganda.
“These are deliberate campaigns to tarnish Uganda’s international image, deter investors, and portray the nation as a pariah state,” the official said.
The move follows a recent dossier and press release by Amsterdam & Partners LLP calling for punitive measures against Uganda over alleged post-election repression.
Government sources also accuse Amsterdam and Smith of advocating sanctions against Ugandan leaders and pushing for international investigations, including potential referrals to the International Criminal Court (ICC), actions authorities describe as aggressive foreign interference in Uganda’s sovereign and judicial processes.
“Pursuing sanctions and global prosecutions against serving officials is not impartial legal work—it is political coercion through external pressure,” the government representative said.
Amsterdam and Smith have consistently described their work as independent advocacy for human rights, democratic governance, and the rule of law. They argue their actions are lawful, transparent, and aligned with international human rights standards, rejecting accusations of subversion or hostility toward Uganda.
They have defended calls for sanctions and international accountability as legitimate, peaceful tools when domestic remedies are viewed as insufficient.
The designation of persona non grata is among the strongest diplomatic measures available to a state, formally excluding individuals whose conduct is deemed hostile to national interests.
Ugandan officials said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is expected to formally communicate the decision through diplomatic channels in the coming days.
Neither Robert Amsterdam nor Jeffrey Smith had issued a fresh public response to the allegations at the time of publication.
