Uganda - Government Suspends Civic Groups Ahead of Elections

14 January 2026
Human Rights Watch (Washington, DC)
press release

On January 12, 2026, days before Uganda's national elections on January 15, the National Bureau for Non-Governmental Organizations ordered at least 10 nongovernmental organizations to immediately cease their operations indefinitely. The suspended organizations include human rights, media, and election monitoring organizations.

The bureau stated it is "in receipt of intelligence information" that the groups are "engaged in activities that are prejudicial to the law of Uganda" and that it is conducting investigations. It did not provide any further information.

The following statement can be attributed to Ashwanee Budoo-Scholtz, deputy Africa director at Human Rights Watch:

"The indefinite suspension on vague, unsubstantiated grounds of organizations whose work promotes civil and political rights, is further evidence of Uganda's disregard for free speech and freedom of association. The government should immediately revoke these suspensions."

Read the original article on HRW.

Tagged:
Copyright © 2026 Human Rights Watch. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.

AllAfrica publishes around 500 reports a day from more than 90 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.