FOR A LIMITED TIME: Museveni Sets Tough Conditions for DGF Operations in Uganda

It might be difficult for the Democratic Governance Facility (DGF) to operate as it used to before 2021 after President Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni announced that the partial lifting of the ban on the organization would only last a few months. 

At the start of last year, Museveni directed Matia Kasaija, the minister of finance, planning and economic development, to suspend the operations of DGF, which was responsible for funding most Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), including in the human rights, democracy, and women empowerment arenas.

According to Museveni, DGF funds were reportedly injected in activities “designed to subvert government.” In a letter dated January 02, 2021, Museveni directed Kasaija to “immediately suspend the activities of the fund until cabinet has fully reviewed this matter and a new governance structure in which the elected representatives of the people of Uganda have appropriate oversight, has been put in place and approved by me.”

But the president has now announced that he will lift the ban on DGF for a few months to enable the completion of pending projects.

The president set tough conditions for DGF, including ensuring representation of government in decision making, meaning that the state will have a key say on which organizations or projects get funded.

The president made the announcement on June 22 after hosting the Danish Minister for Development Cooperation.

“We discussed a number of bilateral issues. I also agreed to lift the ban on Democratic Governance Facility (DGF), to run till December 2022, with Government represented in the decision-making structures,” said Museveni. “I shall formally communicate our position to the relevant government departments.”

When he announced the suspension of DGF, Museveni expressed disappointment with Minister Kasaija, and then Finance Ministry Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury (PSST) Keith Muhakanizi for failing to do their work. (Read Story Here).

Museveni was also disappointed by DGF’s refusal to include government representatives on its board, leaving the top governing organ of the facility with only whites. (Read Story Here).

See the list of NGOs whose operations were affected by the suspension of DGF Here.

LIST: Here are government institutions, projects affected by Museveni suspension of DGF funding