Some of the NGOs that the government last week announced suspended have said they are being witch-hunted.
On Friday, the government announced it had halted the activities of 54 Non- Governmental Organisations for among other reasons, not submitting annual returns.
However, in a statement released over the weekend, the African Institute for Energy Governance (AFIEGO) said the only targeted NGOs are critical to the government.
According to AFIEGO, many of those NGOs labeled as critical to the government have always been targeted with threats of deregistration, freezing of their bank accounts, arrests and office raids among others.
Great Lakes Institute for Strategic Studies’ Godber Tumushabe reiterated the same comments of a witch-hunt by the government.
Youth Line Forum, another suspended NGO, insisted that they were surprised by the government’s decision to suspend their activities despite meeting all the requirements.
The Youth Line Forum said that whereas they appeared on the list of 54 NGOs whose activities had been suspended by the government, they have not formally been informed of the same decision.
Chapter Four Executive Director, Nicholas Opiyo said they had been notified of the indefinite suspension of their permit but said they would engage the government over the same.
Following the suspension of the 54 NGOs, it remains to be seen what will happen to their staff and projects they have been doing or funding.
