GOVERNMENT LIFTS SUSPENSION ON 10 NGOS

By Ismail Bategeka
www.mknewslink.com
In Kampala—
The government has directed the National Bureau for Non-Governmental Organisations to lift the suspension of 10 civil society organisations whose operations were halted in January, in a move that could reopen space for human rights advocacy, election monitoring and public accountability activities in Uganda.
The directive was issued by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Prof Ephraim Kamuntu, who instructed the Secretary of the National Bureau for NGOs, Mr Stephen Okello, to lift the suspensions and allow the affected organisations to resume their activities.
The organisations were suspended on January 9, just days before Uganda’s 2026 General Election, with the Bureau, which operates under the Ministry of Internal Affairs, halting their operations and freezing their bank accounts.
The decision affected several organisations involved in human rights protection, media freedom, election monitoring, legal advocacy and governance accountability.
Speaking during a quarterly dialogue meeting between the Minister of Internal Affairs and NGO leaders in Kampala, Prof Kamuntu said he had reviewed the circumstances surrounding the suspensions since assuming office and concluded that some of the issues raised against the organisations were minor.
He said the government was prepared to overlook those concerns and allow the organisations to return to operation, although he warned them against violating the law.
“Let me mention right away that those suspended NGOs, since I assumed office, I have reviewed your situation. I have found that some of the things you did were minor. We are a strong government; we can ignore them and lift the suspension,” Prof Kamuntu said.
He added: “We are very strong, and I direct Okello to lift the ban and allow you to resume your activities. But be careful this time and operate within the law. Do not meander outside the law, otherwise you will cause some trouble.”
The 10 organisations affected include the African Centre for Media Excellence (ACME), Alliance for Campaign Finance Monitoring (ACFIM), Agora Centre for Research, African Centre for Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture Victims (ACTV), Chapter Four Uganda and Centre for Constitutional Governance (CCG).
Others are the Uganda National NGO Forum (UNNGOF), Network of Public Interest Lawyers (NETPIL), National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders Uganda (NCHRD-U) and Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-U).
Their suspension had raised concerns about the operating environment for civil society organisations, particularly those working in areas of human rights, democratic governance, election transparency and protection of journalists.
The January decision came at a politically sensitive period, with the country preparing for the 2026 General Election, when election monitoring and independent scrutiny of the electoral process were particularly important.
The lifting of the suspensions could therefore provide relief to organisations whose work includes monitoring public institutions, documenting human rights concerns, supporting vulnerable communities and promoting transparency in governance.
However, the minister’s warning that the organisations must operate within the law signals that their return will take place under continued government scrutiny.
The directive was announced during the quarterly dialogue meeting held under the theme, “Enhancing a Sustainable Relationship between Government and the Civil Society Sector in Uganda through Dialogue.”
The meeting provides a platform for government officials and civil society representatives to discuss the relationship between the two sectors, including regulatory concerns and the contribution of NGOs to national development.