Uganda: Suspension of at least seven human rights NGOs ahead of general elections

The Observatory has been informed about the suspension of at least seven human rights non-governmental organisations (NGOs), including Chapter Four Uganda, Alliance for Election Finance Monitoring (ACFIM), Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-U), the National NGO Forum, the Center for Constitutional Governance, the National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders, and African Centre for Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture Victims (ACTV) - member of the OMCT SOS-Torture network.

On 9 January 2025, the National Bureau for Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO Bureau), under the Ministry of Internal Affairs, suspended the operating permit of the above-mentioned seven human rights organisations with immediate effect. In the letters sent to the organisations, the NGO Bureau mentioned “intelligence information” and justified the suspension by alleging prejudice "to the security and the laws of Uganda" in violation of Section 42(d) of the NGO Act Cap. 109 (as amended). According to these letters, all the operations of those NGOs should be ceased pending the conclusion of investigations which, according to the Bureau, should be conducted "within reasonable time". The NGO Bureau further requested the Inspector General of Police to ensure compliance with the suspension orders.

The directive also extends to the financial operations of the affected seven human rights organisations. In the suspension letters, copied to the Executive Director of the Uganda Bankers Association, the Bureau asked banks holding the organisations’ accounts to freeze all transactions pending the outcome of the investigations. This implies the closure of the offices of the above-mentioned NGOs, the suspension of all their operational activities, as well as suspension of payments for staff and service providers, among others.

The Observatory considers that these suspensions of NGOs raise serious concerns about the freedom of association in Uganda, as well as about the treatment of electoral observers and all those seeking to independently monitor and criticise the upcoming general elections, taking place on 15 January 2026.

The Observatory recalls that this pre-election period has been marred with systematic repression and restrictions on fundamental freedoms, which threaten to undermine the legitimacy of the electoral process. With the country's main opposition leader imprisoned, hundreds of supporters arrested, journalists assaulted, human rights defenders arbitrarily detained, such as Dr. Sarah Bireete, Executive Director of Center for Constitutional Governance, affected by this suspension- and digital communications having been shutdown since 13 January at 6pm local time, Uganda's elections risk taking place in an environment incompatible with free and fair democratic competition.

The Observatory strongly condemns the suspension of the operating permit of Chapter Four Uganda, Alliance for Election Finance Monitoring (ACFIM), Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-U), the National NGO Forum, the Center for Constitutional Governance, the National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders, and African Centre for Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture Victims (ACTV), which seems only aimed at punishing them for their human rights activities and impeding them to take any critical position in the context of the upcoming general elections.

The Observatory urges the Ugandan authorities to immediately and unconditionally overturn the suspension orders against the above-mentioned seven human rights NGOs, and to respect, in all circumstances, the right to freedom of association as enshrined in Article 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and Article 29 (1)(e) of the Ugandan Constitution.