By Johnson Kanyesige
Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, the first Prime Minister and Minister for East African Affairs, has revealed that the closure of the Democratic Governance Facility (DGF) in Uganda has resulted in significant unemployment, particularly among the youth.
In the lead-up to the 2021 elections, the President of Uganda ordered the closure of DGF, alleging that it was funding opposition activities. DGF has been one of the key international organizations supporting numerous non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Uganda.
Since it ceased operations in the country, many NGOs have shut down, leading to job losses and reduced tax revenue for the government. While speaking over the weekend at the closure of a three-day civil society organization conference attended by NGO representatives from the eastern region, held at Courts View Hotel in Mbale City, Kadaga expressed her regret over the negative impact of DGF’s closure.
She stated, “The majority of the NGOs were being funded by DGF, but after the government stopped it, many closed, which has cost the government in terms of tax revenue and led to Ugandans losing jobs.” Kadaga emphasized that the government is exploring ways to reinstate DGF’s operations, provided it complies with government regulations.
Tassib Von Drosta, the head of programs at GIZ indicated that the purpose of the meeting was to discuss the challenges faced by NGOs in their operations and seek ways to harmonize their activities for smoother functioning. She highlighted that NGOs in Uganda are grappling with high taxes, operational restrictions, and other challenges that the government must address.
