‘Withdraw Ngo Bill’

By Richard MutumbaTHE United States-based Human Rights Watch has asked the Uganda government to withdraw the proposed NGO Bill, saying it represents a severe threat to freedom of association.The organisation, which was represented by one of its African Division researchers, Juliane Kippenberg, presented its position to the parliamentary committee on defence and internal affairs yesterday.Kippenberg was accompanied to Parliament by the Executive Director of the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI), Livingstone Sewanyana. “The NGO Bill is an ill-considered measure that would impose limits on freedom of association that exceed those permitted under international law.The Bill should therefore be withdrawn by Government or rejected by Parliament,” the researcher told MPs.The Bill proposes to further limit freedom of association and to heighten State control over NGOs. It also provides that in addition to registering with the board, NGOs will have to acquire special permits before they may legally function.Ends