national 19 March 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Uganda Freezes Bank Accounts of Key NGOs Amid Suspicious Transaction Probe
Uganda's Financial Intelligence Authority has frozen accounts of several civil society organizations, including Agora Centre for Research and Chapter Four Uganda, over unexplained transactions totaling Shs70 billion in recent years. The move has sparked accusations of government suppression, with affected groups denied explanations and operations halted. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/ngos-in-tight-corner-after-govt-freezes-accounts-5396422
Several Ugandan civil society organizations (CSOs) are facing operational paralysis after the Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA) ordered banks to freeze their accounts. The affected groups include Agora Centre for Research, Chapter Four Uganda, African Institute for Investigative Journalism, Centre for Constitutional Governance, and The Great Lakes Institute for Strategic Studies.
Sources indicate that two of these entities, Agora Centre for Research and the African Institute for Investigative Journalism, processed Shs70 billion over the past five years without clarifying the funds’ origins or purposes. This triggered the freezes as investigations proceed.
FIA Executive Director Samuel Wandera confirmed the actions, describing them as routine for probing suspicious activities. He noted that the authority can halt transactions and demand explanations from account holders, emphasizing collaboration to resolve concerns.
However, CSO leaders report no formal notifications. Solomon Sserwanja of the African Centre for Investigative Journalism said their bank shut access without reason, despite outreach efforts. Agather Atuhaire of Agora Centre highlighted a three-week unanswered query to their bank, vowing to persist in their work despite prior suspensions.
Sarah Bireete from the Centre for Constitutional Governance decried the lack of due process, urging FIA to disclose financial details publicly. Chapter Four’s Anthony Masake lamented crippled legal aid services due to the freeze.
Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago condemned the crackdown as criminalizing dissent, linking it to fears of Kenyan-style protests spilling over. He called for international intervention, citing Uganda’s human rights commitments, and warned of a strategy to neutralize civil society after weakening opposition.
This follows recent suspensions of 10 NGOs before January 2026 elections and broader NGO closures, prompting legal challenges at the East African Court of Justice.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)