Government to Lift Suspensions for 10 NGOs Within Two Weeks

The Ugandan government is set to lift the suspension of 10 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) within two weeks following a thorough review of their activities. Internal Affairs Minister Ephraim Kamuntu made the announcement during a quarterly engagement between government officials and civil society organisations in Kampala.

Mr. Kamuntu explained that the review was conducted on a case-by-case basis, rather than as a blanket decision. The initial suspensions, enforced on January 9 by the NGO Bureau due to security concerns raised by intelligence reports, had targeted several prominent civil society bodies. The minister stated that operations for organisations found compliant will officially resume within a fortnight.

While acknowledging the crucial role civil society plays in national development, Mr. Kamuntu cautioned organisations against operating outside their registered mandates. He praised the flexibility of NGOs in bridging strategic service delivery gaps that typically face bureaucratic delays within traditional government structures. However, he also raised concerns about external funding sources whose agendas might potentially diverge from national development priorities.

Civil society leaders warmly welcomed the development, noting that previous restrictions had paralyzed community programs, frozen bank accounts, and left many organisations struggling to pay staff salaries and office rent. Mr. Yona Wanjara, Executive Director of the Civic Advisory Hub, emphasized the importance of choosing engagement and partnership over suspicion. Similarly, Ms. Margaret Sekajja of the Human Rights Centre Uganda highlighted how the decision will revive public-benefit activities that had previously come to a complete standstill.

During the same engagement, Mr. Stephen Okello, Executive Director of the NGO Bureau, discussed ongoing modernization efforts within the sector, including the upcoming automation of registration and filing processes to reduce administrative burdens. Read the full story on Daily Monitor.