Government has indefinitely suspended the operations of 54 Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) including the widely known Citizens Coalition for Electoral Democracy Uganda (CCEDU)-which has been at the forefront of campaigning for fair and free elections at all levels of governance and Lawyer Nicholas Opiyo’s Chapter Four Uganda – a largely human rights ngo -watchdog .
The National Bureau for NGO, headed by the Executive Director , Mr. Stephen Okello and with the mandated to register, regulate, monitor, inspect, coordinate and oversee all NGO operations in the country, announced that it was revoking the licences of the powerful NGOs for allegedly failing to comply with the laid down laws and regulations for NGOs in Uganda . Already some of the abolished NGOs were under suspension and investigations by various government security agencies .
“As a result of monitoring and investigation functions the NGO Bureau has found that 54 NGOs are non-compliant with the NGO Act 2016,” said in part a statement issued by the Bureau.
The NGO Bureau said it has established that 23 NGOs are operating with expired permits, 15 NGOs have failed to file annual returns and audited books of accounts while 16 NGOs are operating without registering with the NGO Bureau.
The affected NGOs The NGO Bureau has with the immediate effect halted the operations of these 23 NGOs for operating with expired permits;
Africa Institute for Energy Governance (AFIEGO) Westem Ankole Civil Society Forum (WACSOF) Citizens’ Concerns Africa Elohim Power Transforming Africa Orone Foundation Light Concepts 7, Public Policy Institute Otubet Youth United Development Organization Support Girl Child Uganda Saints Preparation Ministries Adoradon Ministries Islamic Da-awah and Orphanage Foundation 13.Jesus Shines Youth Ministries International
La Bome Missionary Centre Uganda Wanyange Child Support Foundation St. Francis Foundation for the Poor Ray of Hope International Uganda Mindset Change Development Organization Liberty International Foundation Foundation for Women Empowerment for Sickler Aid Karambi Action for Life Improvement Tech Plus Love Foundation Centre for Justice Studies and Innovations
The NGOs that have allegedly failed to file annual returns and audited books of accounts include;
Chapter Four Uganda 2016- 2020 Citizens’ Coalition for Electoral Democracy in Uganda (CCEDU) 2019-2020 Femrite Uganda Women Writers’ Association 2017- 2020 African Humanitarian Action 2017 – 2020 Safe Places Uganda Foundation (SPU) 2017- 2020 Citizens Platform for Democracy and Accountability 2017- 2020 Growth Networks Uganda 2017- 2020 Pallisa Civil Society Organisation Networks 2017- 2020 Citizens Election Watch-IT (CEw-1R1) 2017, 2019, 2020 Youth Line Forum Uganda 2017-2020 Arise Africa International 2018-2020 Dotwa Africa 2018-2020 Rwenzori Consortium for Civic Competence 2018-2020 Centre for Conflict Resolution 2019 – 2020 Youth Equality Centre 2019-2020 And the activities of 16 NGOs halted for operating without registering with the NGO Bureau are;
Great Lakes Insdtute for Strategic Studies (GLISS) Rural Acdon Community Based Organizadon Uganda Help Florida Centre for Sustainability Innovation and Research Environmental Govemance Institute Uganda Graffen Organizadon, Buümba Uganda Kwataniza Women’s Organization Twimukye Women’s Organizadon Witness Radio Uganda Youth for Green Communides Self-worth Inidative VZW Eight Adept Pentecostal International Church Uganda Ltd Innovations for Democratic Engagement and Acdon (IDEA) Network for Active Citizens Leadership Square Afric
