President Yoweri Museveni has ordered the suspension of the operations of Democratic Governance Facility (DGF) and its principal funders in Uganda.
The president, in a letter to the country’s Minister of Finance, Matia Kasaija, alleged that DGF bankrolled non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and government agencies to undermine him.
He said the suspension will run ‘until cabinet has fully reviewed this matter’.
President Museveni ordered the Inspector General of Government (IGG), police and state house anti-corruption unit to probe how the Ministry of Finance authorised the DGF to operate in Uganda.
DGF started operations in 2011 as a five-year programme, which is now running its second five-year plan until December 2022.
The humanitarian outfit, Development Diaries understands, is financed by governments of Denmark, Ireland, Austria, UK, Sweden, Norway and the European Union.
It aims to ensure equitable growth, poverty eradication, rule of law and long term stability in the East African country.
But Museveni said, ‘How is it possible that the Ugandans whose affairs are being dealt with here can only be spectators in the management of their own affairs?
‘This is not the financing of a private business but the funding of state and non-state actors to achieve the political objective of the funders’.
Local media reports claim that sources familiar with the situation told them that the DGF issue was brought to the president’s attention in January at the height of the election campaigns.
At the time, security agencies were alleged to be trying to block all avenues for financial mobilisation for the National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate, Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine.
‘We have not received any formal communication from the government. As development partners, we remain open to dialogue with the government’, Daily Monitor quoted Danish Ambassador to Uganda, Nicolaj Petersen, as saying.
Before the 14 January election, the government of Uganda deported two heads of the United States and European Union-funded NGOs in the country over allegations they support regime change.
Two other heads of foreign NGOs carrying out civic education and strengthening political parties regarding the elections were barred from returning to Uganda.
Also, two civil society organisations that work on voter education had their accounts frozen over their alleged funding of terrorism.
The electoral umpire in Uganda, Electoral Commission, declared Museveni winner of the presidential election.
The candidate of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) got 58.64 percent of the votes, while Bobi Wine finished second with 34.83 percent.
But Wine has rejected the result of the election characterised by violence and internet shutdown.
Source: Daily Monitor
Photo source: Chatham House
