NGO Bureau Chief Sued Over Continued Closure of Civil Society Organisations

KAMPALA — Uganda’s National Bureau for Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO Bureau) is facing fresh legal challenges after its executive leadership was sued over the continued closure of several civil society organisations whose operations were suspended ahead of the country’s recent general elections.

The lawsuit, filed by affected organisations and civil society actors, seeks court intervention to compel the NGO Bureau to lift suspension orders that have prevented a number of prominent human rights, governance and election-monitoring groups from resuming operations.

The dispute stems from directives issued by the NGO Bureau in January, when several organisations were ordered to cease activities immediately pending investigations. The bureau cited intelligence reports and alleged activities deemed prejudicial to national security and the laws of Uganda.

Among the organisations affected were groups involved in human rights advocacy, election monitoring, governance oversight and legal assistance programmes. The suspension orders also extended to financial operations, with restrictions placed on organisational accounts and activities while investigations continued.

Petitioners argue that the prolonged closures have disrupted essential services, weakened civic participation and infringed constitutional protections relating to freedom of association. They contend that the continued enforcement of the suspensions lacks sufficient legal justification and has had a significant impact on civil society operations across the country.

Human rights organisations have also raised concerns that the measures were introduced during a politically sensitive period and have continued beyond the election cycle, limiting the ability of independent groups to conduct advocacy, monitoring and public accountability work.

The NGO Bureau has previously defended its actions, maintaining that the suspensions were necessary to address concerns identified through intelligence assessments and to ensure compliance with Uganda’s legal framework governing non-governmental organisations.

The latest court action places renewed scrutiny on the bureau’s handling of civil society regulation and could have significant implications for the future relationship between government regulators and non-governmental organisations operating in Uganda.

Legal analysts say the case is likely to test the extent of the NGO Bureau’s authority to suspend organisations for prolonged periods and may establish important precedents regarding due process, regulatory oversight and constitutional freedoms.

The court is expected to consider arguments from both the petitioners and government representatives before determining whether the suspension orders should remain in force or be lifted.

Source Daily monitor