Ugandan Government Suspends Activities Of 54 Ngo’s

The Ugandan government has ordered the suspension with “immediate effect” of 54 NGOs, including the main civil liberties organization Chapter Four, in a move seen as a move to tighten its grip on civil society.

In a statement, the NGO Bureau, which is part of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, said the 54 associations, which operate in the political, societal, religious and environmental fields, are accused of “non-compliance” with the law.

They were operating without being registered, with expired permits or repeatedly failed to submit their annual reports and accounts, it said.

Among these 54 NGOs, the association Chapter Four -whose name refers to Chapter 4 of the Ugandan Constitution which sets out fundamental rights and freedoms- and 14 other organizations have been “suspended indefinitely”.

Charity Ahimbisibwe, who heads the Citizens’ Coalition for Electoral Democracy (CCEDU), another organization targeted by the authorities, called the decision “extremely regrettable.

She said CCEDU’s operating permit had expired, but that it had applied for an extension because it could not be renewed during the coronavirus containment and in the face of visible obstruction by government officials.

The Africa section of the International Commission of Jurists said it was “deeply concerned” by the suspension of Chapter Four.

It encourage the authorities to urgently resolve this situation to allow Chapter Four to resume its activities,” it said on Twitter.

– NGOs active during the presidential election –

Some of the organizations affected by the decision were involved in an observation operation during the disputed presidential election in January.