DGF Sponsors Strategy Conference for NGO Leaders

The Democratic Governance Facility (DGF) that was recently suspended by the government has sponsored a strategy retreat in Jinja to forge a way forward the Kampala Post has learnt.

According to our sources, the retreat was attended by 40 of the top NGO leaders and was facilitated by NGO Forum and Action Aid International between February 24th and 28th 2021 at the Source of the Nile in Jinja.

Sources told this website that the NGO leaders agreed on the following points in the retreat:

(a) Demonstrate solidarity with DGF in the present circumstances;

(b) Execute a political action agenda against President Museveni's government;

(c) Pursue new covert funding models for civil society.

Sources said the conference agreed to a political action agenda to immediately stop the continuation of the 'NRM/Museveni regime'.

"They plan to oppose the potential Constitutional amendment of Article 103 that would change government from a Presidential to a Parliamentary system," a source told this website. 

In the opinion of the conference, this (potential amendment) would pave the way for President Museveni 'to procure a preferred succession to his son or any other person of his choice'.

A source that attended the conference said that a master plan to counter the shift was agreed upon.

The NGO leaders also agreed to transform civil society into a highly covert sector.

They also agreed, according to our multiple sources that for now with the unfreezing NGO Forum accounts, any funding of their work will be channeled via this route.

One security source that spoke to the Kampala Post on condition of anonymity said "This 'Strategic retreat' under the auspices of a foreign entity that has been banned in the country proves what government has been saying all along i.e. local NGOs are nothing other than convenient political instruments for hostile foreign countries intent on influencing the politics of the country."

READ MORE: Ugandan Government Writes to DGF Contributors Over Suspension