Towards a Narrow Bridge: A Critical Overview of the Operating Environment for Civil Society Organisations in Uganda

Edrine Wanyama

doi:10.5771/2363-6270-2016-2-173

Contents
- Chapter Expand | CollapseAuthorsPage
- 137–138 Titelei/Inhaltsverzeichnis 137–138
- 139–208 Abhandlungen • Articles • Articles 139–208
  - 139–161 L’Etat camerounais à la croisée des chemins de l’Etat de droit et de l’Etat de police (A propos de la loi du 23 décembre 2014 portant répression des actes de terrorisme) Stève Thiery Bilounga Stève Thiery Bilounga 139–161
  - 162–172 Why not have a Go with an East African Limited Company? What Company Law can contribute to the Integration Process in East Africa Jan-Erik Schirmer Jan-Erik Schirmer 162–172
  - 173–194 Towards a Narrow Bridge: A Critical Overview of the Operating Environment for Civil Society Organisations in Uganda Edrine Wanyama Edrine Wanyama 173–194
  - 195–208 Cross-examination as Part of Fair Trial in Tanzania: A Critical Analysis of the Case of Goodluck Kyando v Republic Alexander Martin Saba Alexander Martin Saba 195–208
- 209–237 Besprechungsaufsatz • Review Article • Critique 209–237
  - Présentation du Traité de droit international public du professeur Auguste Mampuya : Regards croisés sur le régionalisme africain Balingene Kahombo Balingene Kahombo
- 238–248 Berichte • Reports • Rapports 238–248
  - 238–244 Report of the Fourth Regional Conference of the Konrad-Adenauer-Foundation on the Requirements for an Independent and Effective Judiciary in Central and Eastern Africa (Nairobi, Kenya, 1 to 4 September 2016) Magdalena Sylister Magdalena Sylister 238–244
  - 245–248 Mitteilungen aus der Gesellschaft für afrikanisches Recht (2016) Harald Sippel Harald Sippel 245–248
Durchsuchen Sie das Werk
Geben Sie ein Keyword in die Suchleiste ein
CC-BY-NC Access

RiA Recht in Afrika | Law in Africa | Droit en Afrique , page 173 - 194

Towards a Narrow Bridge: A Critical Overview of the Operating Environment for Civil Society Organisations in Uganda

Autoren

Edrine Wanyama

DOI
- doi.org/10.5771/2363-6270-2016-2-173
- ISSN: 1435-0963
- ISSN online: 2363-6270
Abstract

Civil society plays an important role in checking government excesses. It is necessary for accountable and transparent governance. Nevertheless, the environment in which civil society operates across the globe is constantly shrinking. This paper provides for a brief history of stages of development of civil society in Uganda and a brief outline of the numbers of civil society organisations from inception. The paper asserts that the factors affecting the operating environment for civil society are both external and internal. The external factors include: perception of civil society as partisan, restrictive legal environment which mainly consists of the Non-Governmental Organisations Act, 2016, the Public Order Management Act, 2013, the Anti-Terrorism Act, 2005 as amended 2015, the Anti-Pornography Act, 2014, the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2014; security and safety; reliance on donor funding and ignorance of the public due to information gaps. The internal factors include: non-compliance with legal requirements and internal governance issues. The paper concludes that civil society is partly to blame for the shrinking Civil Society Organisations (CSO) space. Finally, the paper notes that for civil society to survive amidst the shrinking political and civic space, capacity development as well as compliance with the laws by CSOs is necessary if they are cope with the emerging security threats. Further, there must be adoption and strengthening of security, cooperation and solidarity, delving into alternative sources of funding, co-operating with government and efforts geared towards amendment of restrictive legislation.
Share