CSOs allege continued govt harassment

Albaqir  Mukhtar  handing over the report to Mohammed Ndifuna during the launch of the Shrinking Civil Society Space in the Horn of Africa report. Photo by Mary Kansiime

Civil Society activists have raised concern over the continued shrinking space in which they operate, saying this has greatly affected their day today functions.

In their new report titled; "Shrinking Civil Society Space in the Horn of Africa" released at the Human Rights Network (HURINET)-Uganda in Kampala yesterday, the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), accuse different governments of using laws in place to restrict their tasks.

The report by the Horn of Africa Civil Society Forum (HoAC), notes that overtime the relationship between CSOs and governments has been characterised by ‘mutually assured distrust'.

"Many of our governments see CSOs as encroaching on state functions and CSOs receiving external funding are perceived to be agents of external powers hell-bent on undermining the national sovereignty which is wrong," the executive director, HURINET-U, Mohammed Ndifuna, noted during the launch Monday

The report indicates that despite the existing constitutional provisions in various countries, they are being undermined by introduction of new restrictive legislation with a framework of laws regulating the formation, registration, operations, funding and accountability of CSOs that are highly restrictive.

The study also shows that some CSOs are also forced to work under the cover of acceptable development programmes such as health while other CSOs have left to establish themselves in other neighboring countries where they can operate freely.

Ndifuna noted that as of June 2017, the National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders Uganda (NCHRDU), recorded over 29 break-ins into premises of CSOs have occurred since 2012.

"Each break-in incident has been reported to the Police on time, but Police efforts to investigate and collect evidence and ensure prosecutors have the best evidence in from of witness statements, DNA, and CCTV footage to bring perpetrators to justice has been limited and lacked follow up.

"As Ugandan NGOs, we demand for accountability and investigation reports on all these series of attacks   on CSOs and human rights defenders to hold the suspects accountable," he added.

Ndifuna said lack of accountability and persistent impunity for attacks on human rights defenders and their offices, sends a message that authorities either tolerate or condone such attacks.

He asked the state to fulfill her obligation of responsibility to respect, protect and fulfil fill human rights, stressing that actions exhibited by the state and its agencies such as the police show a regression of his duty.  

"We call on the state and security agencies to renew commitment to respect, protection and fulfilment of human rights for Ugandan citizens. We are not enemies of the state but partners," he said.

The chairperson HoACSOs, also director Al Khatim Aldan Centre for Enlightened and Human Development (KACE), Albaqir A Mukahitar, asked CSOs to strengthen their collaboration to avoid conflicts in their line of duty.

"We see all these conflicts because both sides do not want to be accountable or evaluated. I call on CSOs to be open and transparent in everything they do. They problem many governments do not want to be exposed. We also want CSOs to be open to scrutiny and work closely with government to avoid suspicion," he noted.

He called for strengthening of regional institutions, exchange of information and sharing of ideas among the CSOs for effectiveness and strengthening their voice within the region.