Civil Society Coalition Opposes Government Push to Access Personal Bank Accounts

A broad coalition of civil society organizations in Uganda has strongly condemned the government’s renewed push to access citizens’ bank account information. Activists warn that the proposed surveillance measure poses a severe threat to financial privacy, business survival, and the economic empowerment of vulnerable groups, particularly women.

The controversy follows remarks made in Parliament by the Minister of State for Finance in charge of Planning, Mr. Amos Lugoloobi, who indicated the government intends to seek approval to monitor private financial accounts. Proponents argue the move would streamline tax administration and curb tax evasion, despite lawmakers having previously rejected a similar attempt.

Speaking at a press briefing in Kampala, Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE) Executive Director Patricia Munaabi labeled the initiative an unconstitutional assault on personal rights. She pointed out that Article 27 of the 1995 Constitution guarantees privacy and protects against unlawful searches, arguing that a bank account is private property that should not be accessed without a court order and due process.

Activists also noted that the plan directly contradicts Section 40 of the Financial Institutions Act, 2004, which mandates strict customer confidentiality. Sophie Nampewo, Oxfam’s Finance for Development and Economic Justice Coordinator, added that confidential financial records are vital for a stable investment environment. She warned that broad data access could expose sensitive information, disproportionately burdening small and medium enterprises and forcing women in the informal sector away from formal banking and back into insecure cash savings.

The coalition has issued several demands, urging the Ministry of Finance to withdraw the current draft, calling on Parliament and the Uganda Women Parliamentary Association to reject the legislation, and appealing to key stakeholders like the Bank of Uganda to defend customer privacy.

Read the original story on Daily Monitor.