PM Nabbanja explains closure of some NGOs
Nabbanja said government could review the status of the affected organisations, citing GiveDirectly as an example of an organisation that has since resumed operations after engaging with government.
The Premier's response came after Members of Parliament called on government to explain why the African Centre for Media Excellence (ACME) and 10 other civil society organisations remain suspended, and asked that they be allowed to resume operations.
KAMPALA - The Prime Minister, Robinah Nabbanja, has explained that some Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) were closed because they had become partisan during the 2026 general elections.
However, Nabbanja said government could review the status of the affected organisations, citing GiveDirectly as an example of an organisation that has since resumed operations after engaging with government.
The Premier's response came after Members of Parliament called on government to explain why the African Centre for Media Excellence (ACME) and 10 other civil society organisations remain suspended, and asked that they be allowed to resume operations.
Raising a matter of national importance during the House sitting on Thursday, July 16, 2026, Lucy Akello (Amuru District Woman Representative) said the prolonged closure of the organisations had left many people unemployed and crippled their operations after their bank accounts were frozen.
In response, Nabbanja promised to look into the matter, but asked legislators to put their concern in writing for easy follow-up. "Please put the question in writing, and I will follow up on the matter," Nabbanja said.
Organisations suspended
Among those closed was ACME, which has played a key role in strengthening journalism through training programmes and the organisation of the annual National Journalism Awards.
Its closure has affected those activities, raising uncertainty over whether the awards will be held this year.
Other affected organisations were: Chapter Four Uganda, Alliance for Campaign Finance Monitoring (ACFIM), Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-U), Uganda National NGO Forum, and Centre for Constitutional Governance.
Others are: National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders in Uganda (NCHRD-U), African Centre for Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture Victims, Agora Centre for Research and the Network of Public Interest Lawyers.
The organisations were accused by the authorities of operating contrary to the law, allegations they denied.