Nicholas Opio’s Chapter Four, Election Observers CCEDU among 54 NGOs suspended by the NGO Bureau

The National Bureau for Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO Bureau) under the Ministry of Internal Affairs has suspended operations of 23 NGOs across the country, due to expired permits and 15 others over failure to file annual returns, while 16 others are in trouble for operating without registering with the Bureau.

The NGO Bureau is mandated to register, regulate, monitor, inspect, coordinate and oversee all NGOs in the country. As a result of its monitoring and investigation functions the NGO Bureau has found that 54 NGOs are non-compliant with the NGO Act 2016.

According to Okello Stephen the Bureau’s Executive Director, they have established that; 23 NGOs are operating with expired permits contrary to section 31 (1) and 32(1) of the NGO Act 2016, 15 NGOs have failed to file annual returns and audited books of accounts to the NGO Bureau contrary to section 39(2) and (3) of the NGO Act 2016 and have other non-compliance issues and that 16 NGOs are operating without registering with the NGO Bureau contrary to section 29 (1), 31 (1) and 31 (2).

While addressing reporters in Kampala on Friday morning, Okello says they have exercised their mandate as the bureau, to with immediate effect, halt operations of these NGOs. Notably of these are Nicholas Opio’s Chapter Four, as well as the election observes, CCEDDU.

Full list of affected NGOs without operating permits;

1. Africa Institute for Energy Governance (AFIEGO)
2. Western Ankole Civil Society Forum (WACSOF)
3. Citizens’ Concerns Africa
4. Elohim Power Transforming Africa
5. Orone Foundation
6. Light Concepts
7. Public Policy Institute
8. Otubet Youth United Development Organization
9. Support Girl Child Uganda
10. Saints Preparadon Ministries
11. Ministries
12. Islamic Da-awah and Orphanage Foundation
13. Jesus Shines Youth Ministries International
14. La Borne Missionary Centre Uganda
15. Wanyange Child Support Foundadon
16. St. Francis Foundation for the Poor
17. Ray of Hope International Uganda
18. Mindset Change Development Organisaú)n
19. Liberty International Foundation
20. Foundation for Women Empowerment for Sickler Aid
21. Karambi Acdon for Life Improvement
22. Tech Plus Love Foundation
23. Centre for Justice Studies and Innovations

List of NGOs Indefinitely suspended for consistently failing to file annual returns and audited books of accounts and have other noncompliance issues.

1. Chapter Four Uganda 2016- 2020
2. Citizens’ Coalition for Electoral Democracy in Uganda (CCEDU) 20192020
3. Femrite Uganda Women Writers’ Association 2017- 2020
4. African Humanitarian Action 2017 – 2020
5. Safe Places Uganda Foundation (SPU) 2017- 2020
6. Citizens Platform for Democracy and Accountability 2017- 2020
7. Growth Networks Uganda 2017- 2020
8. Pallisa Civil Society Organization Networks 2017- 2020
9. Citizens Election Watch-IT (CEw-1^F1) 2017, 2019, 2020
10. Youth Line Forum Uganda 2017-2020
11. Arise Africa 2018-2020
12. Dotwa Africa 2018-2020
13. Rwenzori Consortium for Civic Competence 2018-2020
14. Centre for Conflict Resolution 2019 – 2020
15. Youth Equality Centre 2019-2020

List of NGOs operating without registering with the NGO Bureau.

1. Great Lakes        for Strategic Studies (GLISS)
2. Rural          Community Based Organizaú)n
3. Uganda Help Florida
4. Centre for Sustainability Innovation and Research
5. Environmental Governance Institute Uganda
6. Graffen Organizaú)n, Buúnba Uganda
7. Kwataniza Women’s Organization
8. Twimukye Women’s Organizadon
9. Witness Radio Uganda
10. Youth for Green
11. Self-worth Inidative
12. VZW Eight
13. Adepr Pentecostal International Church Uganda Ltd
14. Innovations for Democratic Engagement and          (IDEA)
15. Network for Active Citizens
16. Leadership Square Africa

The NGO Bureau now says that the general public and all its stakeholders should take note of its decision against the affected organizations. The bureau has also urged its stakeholders from the National, District and Sub-County levels to help in enforcing these decisions by ensuring that these affected organizations halt their operations with immediate effect.

The bureau further called upon District NGO Monitoring Committees (DNMCs) to submit to the NGO Bureau an inventory of all NGOs and an up to date register of all CBOs operating in their districts as per Wednesday 30^th June 2021, and also urged the DNMCs and Sub-county NGO Monitoring Committees (SNMCs) to ensure that all NGOs and CBOs are compliant with the NGO Act 2016 and NGO Regulations 2017 by allowing only those registered and with valid permits to operate in their districts and are furnishing annual returns and any required information to the relevant authorities.

Okello says that only those NGOs registered, and with valid permits and those compliant with submission of annual returns and audited books of accounts will be allowed to operate.