Kampala – The Ugandan government announced on Friday it had halted the activities of 54 non-governmental organisations, a major escalation of its efforts to tighten control over civil society.
One of the groups affected is the country’s most prominent rights organisation, Chapter Four.
The National Bureau for NGOs, part of the ministry of internal affairs, said in a statement the shutdown was ordered “with immediate effect”.
It said the decision was made because the groups had failed to comply with legislation covering their activities, including operating with expired permits, failing to file accounts or failing to register with the authorities.
ALSO READ | Top News Headlines
Some of the organisations ordered to close had taken part in an election monitoring operation on polling day in January which was raided by security forces and several of their leaders arrested.
The election saw President Yoweri Museveni returned for a sixth term in office after a violent campaign marked by the harassment and arrest of opposition figures, attacks on the media and the deaths of several dozen people.
Chapter Four executive director Nicholas Opiyo confirmed his group had received the government’s order to close and described the situation as “serious”.
The International Commission of Jurists Africa branch said on Twitter it was “deeply concerned” by the suspension of Chapter Four.
“We encourage the authorities to urgently resolve this situation to enable Chapter Four to commence operations again,” it said.
Also read the following from African Insider
Verdict in trial of ‘Hotel Rwanda’ hero set for September 20
SA recorded at least 10 000 rapes, 5 700 murders between April and June
Zimbabwe man charged with murder after 14-year-old wife dies during childbirth
Uganda suspends 54 NGOs, including prominent rights group
Kenyan court to rule on disputed bid to change constitution
In December 2020 – a month ahead of the election – Ugandan authorities arrested Opiyo for alleged money-laundering.
Opiyo – who has received several prestigious human rights prizes for his activism – spent Christmas in detention at a high security prison before being released on bail a week later.
Despite repeated court appearances since then, the government has not produced any evidence to support its allegations.
A group of 14 major international donors, including the European Union and the United States, had protested at Opiyo’s arrest.
Charity Ahimbisibwe, who leads the Citizens’ Coalition for Electoral Democracy (CCEDU) — another of the shuttered organisations — described the government action as “extremely unfortunate”.
Ahimbisibwe said the move came after the organsation had received repeated summons to government offices since it released a report which had catalogued malpractice during the election.
ALSO READ | Uganda’s Museveni rebukes security forces for excess force
Ahimbisibwe said the CCEDU’s operating permit had expired but it had asked for an extension because it was not possible to renew it during the long coronavirus lockdown and apparent stalling by local government officials.
“As a law-abiding body we will not continue to operate without the permit,” Ahimbisibwe said.
On Saturday, Museveni had publicly scolded Uganda’s security forces for using excessive violence, as the opposition alleges hundreds of their supporters disappeared or died following the violent election crackdown.
The veteran president, who was re-elected despite widespread reports of irregularities, blamed “indiscipline” and “laziness” among state forces for incidents that resulted in the death of Ugandans.
At least 54 people were shot dead in November while demonstrating over the arrest of Museveni’s main political opponent, the rapper-turned-MP Bobi Wine.
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Picture: Getty Images
Source: AFP
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
