Organisation Members of the New Election Watch – Uganda have petitioned the High Court in Kampala seeking to reverse a decision by the NGO Bureau to suspend their activities.
According to their representative Sarah Bireete also Director for Centre for Constitutional Governance (CCG), the NGO Bureau over-stepped its boundaries in halting the activities of the New Election Watch because it was never registered as an NGO.
Bireete argues that on 10th September, 2020 several NGOs and citizens launched a consortium to engage in election observance and build structures in collaboration with other election stake holders ahead of the 2021 general elections.
But to their dismay through, the NGO bureau, which is an umbrella body that regulates all civil societies in Uganda suspended the activities of the New Election Watch – Uganda on grounds that it was neither registered nor recognised by it.
Bireete contends that the actions of the NGO Bureau are illegal since it has no mandate to regulate a body which doesn’t fall under its jurisdiction.
She now wants Court to intervene, have the decision rescinded and allow the New Election Watch carry on its mandate as they are being condemned unheard.
