Civil society groups hold Kampala press briefing rejecting government 'terrorist' label and NGO crackdown

Civil society organisations held a joint press briefing in Kampala, where activist Andrew Karamagi read a statement titled "NGOs Are Not Terrorist Organizations!", with Dr Sarah Bireete, Sarah Mukasa and Job Kiija present. The groups accused the government of a campaign of hostility against NGOs, including the suspension of 10 organisations without due process under the regime set up by the NGO (Amendment) Act 2024, and the freezing of NGO bank accounts through the Financial Intelligence Authority and the Uganda Bankers' Association, which they said defies High Court rulings. They demanded that the suspensions be reversed, the accounts unfrozen and proposals for a state-controlled 'NGO Fund' withdrawn.