By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
KAMPALA:
The National Bereau for Non Government Organizations in Uganda (NGO Bureau) has on Friday announced that it has indifinetely suspended the operations of 54 Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) over non compliance with NGO Act,2016.
The NGO Bureau, the body mandated to register, regulate, monitor, inspect, coordinate and oversee all NGO operations in the country, announced the halting of activities of the affected NGOs on Friday morning saying they failed to comply with the laid down doctrines.
“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 part of the statement.
This was disclosed by the Executive Director NGO Bureau, Stephen Okello while addressing the journalists at Uganda Media Centre.
He noted 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.
“23 NGOs are operating with expired permits contrary to section 31(1) and 32(1) of the NGO Act 2016,” Okello said.
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
- Public Policy Institute
- Otubet Youth United Development Organization
- Support Girl Child Uganda
- Saints Preparation Ministries
- Adoradon Ministries
- Islamic Da-awah and Orphanage Foundation
- 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.
According to NGO Bereau, the following independent NGOs have allegedly failed to file annual returns and audited books of accounts;
- 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
The 16 NGOs which have been operating without registering with the bereau and whose activities have been halted are;
- Great Lakes Institute for Strategic Studies (GLISS)
- Rural Acdon Community Based Organization
- 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 Africa
According to the Ministry of Internal affairs, the Human rights and Election monitoring NGOs did not file annual returns and audited books of accounts.
Human Rights lawyer, Nicholas Opiyo whose NGO, Chapter Four Uganda is among the suspended organizations confirmed receiving a notification from NGO Bereau noting that they (Chapter 4) will clarify on the matter.
“The National Bureau for NGOs has notified us of the indefinite suspension of the permit of Chapter Four for what they term failure to file returns and disclosing our sources of funding. We are working with the authorities to clarify what we believe is a misunderstanding”, Mr. Opiyo tweeted.
In February, President Museveni ordered for the suspension of operations of the Democratic Governance Facility (DGF) and frozen its bank accounts with 500b on allegations that the organization was funding activities of his rival political party, National Unit Platform (NUP) in the January elections.
This has since affected the operations of several non-governmental organisations (NGOs) across the country such as civil society organisation (CSOs) engaged in accountability, human rights and good governance, democracy, service delivery monitoring and capacity-building.
Many of which have halted their activities at the national, regional and grassroots levels.
