Uganda’s civil society organizations have strongly rejected the government’s proposed NGO Funding Bill 2026, which introduces state oversight of foreign funding and accreditation, warning that it threatens constitutional freedoms of association and expression ahead of the 2026 elections. Activists emphasized that NGOs play a critical role in bridging service delivery gaps and should not face restrictive regulations that limit their ability to operate independently.
Civil society leaders argued that the timing of the proposals, emerging before and after the 2026 presidential elections, appears aimed at curbing civic engagement on sensitive issues such as corruption, human rights abuses, and electoral integrity. This concern builds on a history of NGO restrictions in Uganda, including the 2017 raids on human rights organizations and the 2021 suspensions of 54 NGOs for compliance issues, many of which were later successfully challenged in court.
Sarah Bireete, Executive Director of the Center for Constitutional Governance, criticized the government for imposing unlawful sanctions and questioned the legal status of the NGO Bureau following recent amendments. Activists called for a halt to ongoing Regulatory Impact Assessment proposals concerning NGO funding and donor accreditation and demanded broader consultations with stakeholders to ensure inclusive policy-making.
The organizations also urged the government to uphold Articles 29 and 38 of the Ugandan Constitution, which guarantee freedom of association, freedom of expression, and participation in governance, warning that failure to do so could further erode civic space and democratic engagement.
