Activist Agather Atuhaire says Centenary Bank has frozen her account after her organization AGORA’s accounts were blocked.
AGORA Discourse is a digital public square promoting human rights, public accountability and social justice.
The freezing of bank accounts belonging to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Uganda remains part of a wider and increasingly contentious crackdown on civil society.
The actions, largely executed by the Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA), began around February and intensified into March, targeting several prominent civil society organisations over what authorities described as suspected financial irregularities and undisclosed funding sources.
The FIA caused the halting of transactions and frozen accounts of a number of NGOs as part of ongoing investigations. The affected organisations included Agora Centre for Research, Chapter Four Uganda, the African Institute for Investigative Journalism, the Centre for Constitutional Governance, and the Great Lakes Institute for Strategic Studies.
There were reports of concerns that some of these entities had handled large sums of money—reportedly up to Shs70 billion—without adequately explaining the origin or intended use of the funds. FIA sources insisted the move was within the agency’s mandate, describing it as a routine step taken when suspicious financial activity is detected.
However, the account freezes did not occur in isolation as the actions were placed within a broader pattern of tightening state control over civil society, particularly in the lead-up to the 2026 general elections. At least 10 NGOs had earlier been suspended by the National Bureau for NGOs on allegations of engaging in activities deemed prejudicial to national security, often without detailed public explanation or opportunity for defence. Government officials maintained that the measures were based on credible intelligence and necessary to safeguard national stability.
NGOs argued that the freezing of accounts was carried out without court orders, raising serious questions about due process and the rule of law. Lawyers described the move as a “weaponisation” of regulatory bodies such as the FIA. The Uganda Law Society subsequently took the matter to the East African Court of Justice, challenging both the suspension of NGOs and the freezing of their accounts as arbitrary and unlawful, particularly given that affected organisations were allegedly not granted a fair hearing.
Beyond the legal and political dimensions, the economic impact of the account freezes has been significant. The restrictions triggered a ripple effect across multiple sectors, with media houses losing advertising revenue tied to NGO partnerships and hotels suffering cancellations of workshops and conferences typically funded by civil society groups. Employees and service providers dependent on NGO activity also faced income disruptions. Civil society actors warned that the consequences could extend further, potentially limiting access to essential services such as healthcare, education, and legal aid, especially in vulnerable communities that rely heavily on NGO support.
The timing of the crackdown—coinciding with the election period—has further fueled suspicion among critics, who argue that the state is seeking to neutralise civil society as a source of political mobilisation and accountability. While the government insists the measures are purely regulatory and aimed at ensuring financial transparency, observers and activists view them as part of a broader strategy to curtail independent voices.
AGATHER ATUHAIRE CLAIMS CENTENARY BANK FROZE HER ACCOUNT
Agather Atuhaire has complained of a regime that has continued to tighten restrictions targeting the civil society sector.
She complained that Centenary Bank, one of the most profitable banks in Uganda, had not even informed her about orders for the freezing of her account.
“These dictators are determined to squeeze us left, right and center.. and every other entity, government and private, is enabling them. So after freezing AGORA Discourse’s accounts, they came for mine,” she wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
“My bank Centenary Bank did as they ordered without caring to find out whether there is any basis and didn’t even have the decency to at least inform me!!”
Centenary Bank was yet to respond to the allegations of freezing Agather Atuhaire’s account.
Agather Atuhaire has faced troubles for her activism, including from top Ugandan politicians and other activists. From a Tanzanian officer attempting to force himself on her, to her exchanging fluids with an activist who dumped her, and to an ugly war of words with Uganda Law Society president Isaac Ssemakadde, Agather Atuhaire has been through a lot but she fights on. See Details Here, There, Over Here, and Over There.
But she has been recognized by the EU and US as well as Time Magazine for her boldness. (See Details Here and There.
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