KAMPALA, UGANDA: Chapter Four Uganda, a non-profit, legal & advocacy organisation has resumed its operations after its suspension over unclear reasons.
The revelation was made in a press statement released on Thursday, June 30 via the organization’s official Twitter account.
“We are delighted to officially announce that our offices are now open. As a principled defender of rights, we will continue our work to pursue compliance with human rights law as guaranteed under the Constitution of Uganda,” a tweet announcing their resumption partly reads.
Dr Zahara Nampewo, Board Chair, Chapter Four Uganda welcomed the staff back to the office and reiterated their commitment to defending legal rights and reclaiming respect for civic spaces and freedoms in Uganda.
“We renew our commitment to defend legal rights and reclaim respect for civic spaces and freedoms in Uganda. All services are fully operational, including emails and social media accounts.”
She however bemoaned the hostile and unsafe environment in which civil society organizations and human rights defenders in Uganda operate.
“We remain deeply concerned about the increasingly hostile and unsafe environment for civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations and human rights defenders in Uganda. As a principled defender of rights, the organization vowed to continue its work to pursue compliance with human rights law as guaranteed under the Constitution of Uganda and the applicable international and regional human rights instruments,” she said.
Background
In August 2021, the National Bureau of Non-Government Organisations (NGO Bureau) suspended the activities of Chapter Four, Citizens’ Coalition for Electoral Democracy in Uganda (CCEDU), and 52 others for failure to file annual returns and audited books of accounts.
Chapter Four Uganda however challenged the NGO Bureau’s decision in court and in May 2022, Justice Musa Ssekaana of the high court division ruled that the NGO Bureau must hear Chapter Four Uganda within one month and this paved way for its new permit, and consequential reopening.
The organization is headed by renowned Rights Lawyer Nicholas Opiyo who is its executive director.
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