KIGEZI NGOS ACCUSE GOVT OF FREEZING THEIR BANK ACCOUNTS TO DENY UGANDANS FREE ELECTIONS

By GranT Ahumuza

www.mknewslink.com

In Kigezi—-

The Kigezi region based NGOs are accusing the government of Uganda of freezing their accounts as a politically planned move intended to block the local Ugandans  from accessing free elections.

This came after The Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA) ordered the freezing of bank accounts of at least four Civil Society Organizations and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) involved in good governance and election observation in the country. 

Sources privy to the investigations say the four have been on surveillance for some time over their alleged links and “friendliness” to the Opposition political parties.

Sydney Asubo, the executive director of FIA, without providing the specifics confirmed the freezing, but declined to offer further details.

Now according to Juliet Tushemereirwe, Programs Officer Kick Corruption out of Uganda, the stated allegations are  false, baseless and has negatively affected their work as the plat form for citizen engagement and democracy.

 Dorothy Kesime FOWEDE Kabale field officer says that the decision of freezing the NGOs accounts was unfair because those funds have been used for intervention running especially in this Covid 19 era ,fight for women’s rights and gender balance in Uganda adding that some Ugandans who has been saved  will suffer hunger and poverty   .

Rev. Fr. Gaetano Batanyenda, Vice Chairperson Kick Corruption out of Uganda also lashed out at the government that they don’t value vulnerable Ugandans because these NGOs have been supporting them in order to come out of poverty.

He adds that the affected NGOs have license to operate in Uganda and wondered why they were frozen during this election season without any proof of scandal committed in government by them.

He added that they have been engaging the authorities to come out and clarify the matter but all in vain.

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