Ugandan authorities have declared British lawyer Robert Amsterdam—widely known as opposition leader Bobi Wine’s international legal counsel—and American activist Jeffrey Smith persona non grata, banning them from entering the country with immediate effect.

The decision, confirmed by senior security and diplomatic sources, accuses the pair of sustained unlawful interference in Uganda’s internal affairs, economic sabotage, and support for subversive political activities.

“Smith and Amsterdam have proven to be enemies of Uganda through their destructive activism. The declaration is final,” local publisher ChimpReports quotes senior government official.

Authorities claim Amsterdam and Smith have lobbied foreign governments, international financial institutions, and multilateral organizations to block or cut development funding to Uganda—actions officials label as deliberate economic sabotage intended to undermine growth, investor confidence, and strategic partnerships.

The two are further alleged to have promoted narratives and operations of groups deemed subversive under Ugandan law, spread messages inciting unrest, and sought to delegitimize state institutions.

Officials say they have used foreign media and global platforms to circulate defamatory and inflammatory content about the country.

“These are deliberate campaigns to tarnish Uganda’s international image, deter investors, and portray the nation as a pariah state,” the official further told ChimpReports.

The move follows a recent dossier and press release from Amsterdam & Partners LLP urging punitive measures against Uganda over alleged post-election repression.

Government officials also accuse the pair of advocating sanctions against Ugandan leaders and pushing for international investigations, including potential referrals to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Such efforts, they argue, constitute aggressive foreign meddling in Uganda’s sovereign and judicial processes.

“Pursuing sanctions and global prosecutions against serving officials is not impartial legal work—it is political coercion via external pressure,” the government representative said.

Amsterdam and Smith have consistently framed their work as independent advocacy for human rights, democratic governance, and the rule of law.

They maintain that their actions are lawful, transparent, and aligned with international human rights standards, rejecting accusations of subversion or hostility toward Uganda.

They defend calls for sanctions and international accountability as legitimate peaceful tools when domestic remedies are deemed inadequate.

Persona non grata status is one of the strongest diplomatic measures a state can impose, formally excluding the individual and signaling that their conduct is deemed hostile to national interests.

Kampala’s position is clear: foreign actors will not be permitted to shape political outcomes from abroad under the guise of human rights or democracy promotion.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is expected to communicate the decision through official 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.