On October 13, 2017, the Ugandan government froze the financial accounts of ActionAid Uganda, a vocal opponent of the Age Limit Bill, and accused the civil society organization (CSO) of conducting illegal activities. ActionAid Uganda is one of several organizations, including Solidarity Uganda and the Great Lakes Institute for Strategic Studies (GLISS), recently targeted by the government. Arthur Larok, County Director of ActionAid Uganda, said his organization has become a target of cyber attacks as well, and the allegations they are facing are “grave but completely unfounded.”

The harassment of ActionAid Uganda is part of the broader ongoing crackdown on civil society members who have recently rallied against the Age Limit Bill. The pending legislation removes the age limit of presidential candidates eligible to run, which would directly benefit the 73-year old President Yoweri Museveni. If passed, President Museveni – who has undermined the credibility of past elections and subjected Ugandans to authoritarian rule for the past 30 years – can legally run for another term in 2021. Both the removal of presidential term limits in 2005 and the Age Limit Bill pave a path for President Museveni to further consolidate his authoritarian presidential power, and establish a life presidency, a severe blow to the country’s fragile democracy.

TIMELINE OF THE CRACKDOWN ON CIVIL SOCIETY

AUGUST

• August 3rd: Activists organized under the Togikwatako Campaign after the ruling political party introduced the Age Limit Bill to parliament; shortly after, politicians also spoke out against the unconstitutionality of the bill.

SEPTEMBER

• September 20-21: Police raided and seized several documents and technology from Solidarity Uganda, GLISS, and ActionAid Uganda’s offices in Kampala.
• September 21: Authorities jailed several civil society and political leaders, such as the Mayor of Kampala Erias Lukwago.
• September 28: Civil society leaders issued a statement condemning the state-led attacks on critics of the Age Limit Bill, and stated that “many of these Ugandans were mercilessly tortured and remain incarcerated.”

OCTOBER

• October 11: The Ministry of Internal Affairs demanded that 27 Ugandan CSOs submit “financial information” to the NGO Bureau within seven days.
• October 13: The Deputy Governor of the Bank of Uganda froze the financial accounts of ActionAid Uganda and accused the organization of “conspiracy to commit a felony” and “money laundering.”
• October 18: Authorities banned all demonstrations against the Age Limit Bill, used force against demonstrators, and killed one protester.

The World Movement for Democracy urges President Museveni to end its retaliation against ActionAid Uganda and all other members of civil society speaking out against the Age Limit Bill. Join us in sharing a solidarity tweet!

Arthur Larok is a World Movement participant.