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| President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni |
KAMPALA, Aug 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Uganda ordered Friday the suspension with immediate effect of the activities of 54 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the political, religious, and environmental fields, including the main civil rights organization, accusing them of not complying with the law.
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, these associations operated without being officially registered, had expired work permits, and had not submitted annual reports and accounts.
The head of the NGO department in the Government, Stephen Okello, called on the institutions to “assist in implementing these decisions, ensuring that operations cease with immediate effect.”
The director of the NGO Chapter Four, the main body for the defence of civil liberties in this African country, Nicholas Opiyo, confirmed that he had received the notification and considered the situation “serious”.
The leader of Chapter Four is also an advocate for many community activists, as well as a popular singer and MP Bobi Wine, 38, who was the main opponent of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, in power since 1986, in the presidential elections in January of this year.
Opiyo was arrested in December last year, a month before a controversial presidential election, by authorities who accused him of money laundering, and was then detained in a high-security prison and released on bail a week later.
Several countries, including the European Union and the United States of America, protested at the time against his arrest. — NNN-AGENCIES
