Reflecting on the drivers of the shrinking civic space in Uganda, and the trust deficits, there is a significant latent desire for an engagement platform, that extends an opportunity for NGOs to learn from, and also voice sectoral concerns in line with the compliance obligations, under the different regulators that include among others National Bureau of NGOs, National Social Security Fund, Uganda Revenue Authority, Financial Intelligence Authority Uganda Registration Services Bureau, National Identification  and Registration Authority, Uganda Communications Commission, Electoral Commission, Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control etc. This follows the recent NGO Bureau notification of cessation or suspension of operations of a large number of NGOs, citing the little-known Non-Governmental Organisations Act 2016 by many domestic and international bodies. The argument that these groups have not complied with the Act is based on the legal adage of “ignorance of the law is no defense,” hence raising the necessity to create awareness of all the vital statutory obligations for NGOs in Uganda.

Additionally, most of our beneficiaries under the Compliance Watch program have expressed concern about the restrictive NGO regulatory framework and it’s undesirable impact on the ability of the NGO actors to function independently in their contribution to good public works.