KAMPALA, Uganda – Internal Affairs Minister Ephraim Kamuntu has directed the National Bureau for NGOs to review the cases of suspended civil society organizations and facilitate the reopening of those that have resolved their regulatory concerns within two weeks.
The directive marks a possible turning point for several organizations whose activities were halted by the government earlier this year, raising concerns about the operating environment for civil society groups in Uganda.
Kamuntu issued the instructions Tuesday during a quarterly dialogue bringing together officials from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, government agencies and representatives of civil society organizations.
The meeting, organized by Human Rights Centre Uganda in partnership with the National Bureau for NGOs, provided a platform for discussions on regulatory challenges affecting nongovernmental organizations.
Under the new directive, the NGO Bureau is expected to examine each suspended organization’s circumstances separately instead of applying a uniform approach to all affected groups.
The minister gave the bureau two weeks, beginning Nov. 10, to facilitate the reopening of organizations that have addressed the concerns responsible for their suspension.
However, the directive does not automatically restore the operating status of every suspended organization. Those with unresolved regulatory matters will still be subject to individual assessments.
Background to the Suspensions
The development follows the suspension of several civil society organizations on Jan. 9, 2026, just days before Uganda’s Jan. 15 general elections.
Among the affected organizations were Chapter Four Uganda, the Alliance for Election Finance Monitoring, Human Rights Network for Journalists Uganda, the National NGO Forum and the Centre for Constitutional Governance.
Others included the National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders and the African Centre for Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture Victims.
At the time, the NGO Bureau cited Section 42(d) of the NGO Act, alleging that the organizations had engaged in activities considered prejudicial to national security and contrary to Ugandan law.
The suspensions required the affected organizations to cease operations, with enforcement measures reportedly including police intervention and restrictions on access to bank accounts.
The decisions attracted criticism from human rights advocates, who raised concerns about freedom of association and the ability of civil society organizations to carry out their work.
The matter also drew legal and parliamentary attention as questions emerged over the continued suspension of the organizations.
Ireland Welcomes Government Directive
The announcement has received a positive response from Ireland’s ambassador to Uganda and Rwanda, Mags Gaynor, who welcomed the government’s decision to review the suspensions.
Reacting to the development through the Irish Embassy’s official account on X, Gaynor described the announcement as “excellent news.”
Her response comes as the government seeks to address concerns surrounding the regulation of civil society organizations and their ability to operate within Uganda’s legal framework.
For the affected groups, the directive presents an opportunity to resume activities after months of uncertainty. However, their return will depend on the outcome of the individual reviews conducted by the NGO Bureau.
Attention now turns to the bureau’s implementation of the minister’s instructions and whether organizations that have met the necessary requirements will be allowed to reopen by Nov. 24.
The outcome could influence relations between the government and civil society organizations, particularly on matters of regulatory compliance, accountability and freedom of association.
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