Uganda to Audit NGO Finances
Uganda has ordered non-governmental organisations in the country to submit their financial information including budgets and donor lists to the authorities. This has been met with criticism from rights groups as another attempt to silence dissent. The government of President Yoweri Museveni, has had long face off’s with NGOs and others of alleged and reported excesses including corruption, torture, illegal detentions and extra-judicial killings. Over the last year several government officials have been quoted in local media accusing Bobi Wine, a musician-turned-legislator who says he will seek the presidency at the next election, of being funded by unnamed foreign agents. Steven Okello, executive director of the state-run National Bureau for NGOs says that the organisation was undertaking a “verification and validation” exercise for all non-profits operating in the country and that this included filing of financial records. Uganda’...