CSO’s Accuse Government
Civil society organizations-CSO’s dealing in Human rights and governance issues have accused the government of shrinking their space for operations and operating outside the confines of the law.
The CSO’s argue that the government has been so critical of NGOs doing governance work like constitutionalism and human rights and has blocked deliberately blocked their operations.
Last year, the government banned the activities of NEW-U, an election observers’ loose coalition of more than 50 NGOs for allegedly operating illegally.
The bank accounts of the National NGO Forum, a membership organization with over 650 organizations, and Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET), an entity that brings together 20 Women’s Rights Organizations and nine individual activists were also frozen for allegedly engaging in money laundering and funding subversive activities.
The Executive Director of Center for Constitutional Sarah Bireete says they have held several meetings with the authorities but the government continues to shrink the civic space.
CSO’s Accuse Government
Bireete says the government is comfortable with Civil Society Organizations that focus on service delivery like poverty alleviation programs and extending safe water to the communities but are hostile to CSOs focused on accountability, governance, and democracy.
Bireete says that the government needs to act under the law when dealing with the activities of CSOs.
She was speaking at the launch of a book titled, Uganda’s Civil Society.
However, Minister for Internal Affairs Jeje Odongo who attended the same launch says that the level of suspicion between civil society organizations and the NGO Board is high which has led to the closure of some offices of CSOs, interdiction of CSO leaders and freezing of bank accounts. ]
Odongo admits that there is friction between the government and civil society, but said that the government is committed to improving its working relationship with CSOs.
He also said that there is a need to appreciate the role of the CSOs in the country.
He committed to holding periodic meetings with members of the Civil Society to discuss their work.
