Museveni could have been misled by intelligence agencies & advisors: Ugandan MPs make case for DGF operations resumption

Ugandan law makers have urged President Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni to reconsider his decision on the suspension of activities of biggest NGO funder Democratic Governance Facility (DGF).

On January 02, Museveni directed his finance minister Matia Kasaija to suspend DGF Uganda’s operations for reportedly funding subversive activities and refusing to have a Ugandan representative on its board.

The suspension is expected to cripple operations of about 60 Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and about 15 state actors.

Thousands of jobs could also be lost once funding to these NGOs is blocked.

When the matter came up for debate in Parliament, outgoing Kawempe North MP Latif Ssebagala suspected Museveni could have been misled by his advisors and intelligence agencies that DGF Uganda was involved in politics.

Ssebagala urged Museveni to reconsider his decision and allow the organisation to resume operations.

Bugiri Municipality MP Asuman Basalirwa even wondered why Museveni would suspend an organisation that funds government entities such as parliament and the Inter-Party Organization for Dialogue (Ipod) in which the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) is a member.

Both Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga and deputy prime minister Moses Ali agreed that the matter should be debated and the line minister tasked to give an explanation once the investigating agencies have completed their work.