Min.Matembe’s CCEDU Closed In 54 NGOs Clampdown

This comes after Executive Director of the National Bureau for Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO Bureau), Okello Stephen, made the revelation while is addressing the Press on Halting the Operations Friday.

The National Bureau for Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO Bureau) under the Ministry of Internal Affairs is mandated to register, regulate, monitor, inspect, coordinate and oversee all NGO operations in the country.

Okello said 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.

“The NGO Bureau has established that; 23 NGOs are operating with expired permits contrary to section 31(1) and 32(1) of the NGO Act 2016,” he told press at Uganda Media Centre.

He said 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.

“The NGO Bureau would like to; 1. Inform the general public and all its stakeholders to take note of its decision against the affected organisations; The NGO Bureau would like to; And 2; Calls upon its stakeholders from the National, District and Sub-County levels to help in enforcing these decisions by ensuring that these affected organisations halt their operations with immediate effect.”

Lawyer Opiyo confirmed in a tweet that they have received a notification from the National Bureau for NGOs about this indefinite suspension.

He is working with relevant authorities to clarify the issues because they believe it is just a ‘misunderstanding.’

“The National Bureau for NGOs has notified us of the indefinite suspension of the permit of @chapterfourug for what they term failure to file returns & disclosing our sources of funding. We are working with the authorities to clarify what we believe is a misunderstanding,” Opiyo tweeted.

He said Chapter Four filed its returns in January 2021 and they were received by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

In December 2020, Nicholas Opiyo was arrested on charges related to money laundering.

Financial Intelligence Authority claimed that bank accounts of two NGOs, Uganda National NGO Forum and Uganda Women’s Network, that Opiyo represents were involved in moving money to finance terrorism activities.

Full list:

1. Africa Institute for Energy Govemance (AFIEGO)
2. Westem Ankole Civil Society Forum (WACSOF)
3. Citizens’ Concems Africa
4. Elohim Power Transforming Africa
5. Orone Foundation
6. Light Concepts
   7, Public Policy Institute
7. Otubet Youth United Development Organization
8. Support Girl Child Uganda
9. Saints Preparadon Ministries
10. Adoradon Ministries
11. Islamic Da-awah and Orphanage Foundation
    13.Jesus Shines Youth Ministries International
12. La Bome Missionary Centre Uganda
13. Wanyange Child Support Foundadon
14. St. Francis Foundation for the Poor
15. Ray of Hope International Uganda
16. Mindset Change Development Organisadon
17. Liberty Intemational Foundation
18. Foundation for Women Empowerment for Sickler Aid
19. Karambi Acdon for Life Improvement
20. Tech Plus Love Foundation
21. Centre for Justice Studies and Innovadons
    B. Indefinitely suspended the following NGOs that have consistently failed to file annual returns and audited books of accounts and have other noncompliance issues.
22. Chapter Four Uganda 2016- 2020
23. Cidzens’ Coalition for Electoral Democracy in Uganda (CCEDU) 20192020
24. Femrite Uganda Women Writers’ Association 2017- 2020
25. African Humanitarian Action 2017 – 2020
26. Safe Places Uganda Foundation (SPU) 2017- 2020
27. Citizens Platform for Democracy and Accountability 2017- 2020
28. Growth Networks Uganda 2017- 2020
29. Pallisa Civil Society Organisation Networks 2017- 2020
30. Citizens Election Watch-IT (CEw-1R1) 2017, 2019, 2020
31. Youth Line Forum Uganda 2017-2020
32. Arise Africa Internadonal 2018-2020
33. Dotwa Africa 2018-2020
34. Rwenzori Consortium for Civic Competence 2018-2020
35. Centre for Conflict Resolution 2019 – 2020
36. Youth Equality Centre 2019-2020
    C. Halted the activities ofNGOs operating without registering with the NGO
    Bureau.
37. Great Lakes Insdtute for Strategic Studies (GLISS)
38. Rural Acdon Community Based Organizadon
39. Uganda Help Florida
40. Centre for Sustainability Innovation and Research
41. Environmental Govemance Institute Uganda
42. Graffen Organizadon, Buümba Uganda
43. Kwataniza Women’s Organization
44. Twimukye Women’s Organizadon
45. Witness Radio Uganda
46. Youth for Green Communides
47. Self-worth Inidative
48. VZW Eight
49. Adept Pentecostal International Church Uganda Ltd
50. Innovations for Democratic Engagement and Acdon (IDEA)
51. Network for Active Citizens
52. Leadership Square Africa