The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
In July 2018, the EC banned CCEDU from election related activities accusing the body of partisanship and discrediting electoral processes. The EC lifted the ban in February after a number of meetings were held to resolve the issues.
But after the Hoima by-election, some members of the civil society were firm in their accusation that CCEDU; an amalgam of 800 civil society organisations meant to advocate for electoral democracy, had a pact with the election management body.
EC chairman Justice Simon Byabakama could not be reached for comment.
Kaheru refutes this claim. “CCEDU did not sign any MoU with the EC for the ban to be lifted. We did not!”
He says CCEDU would have publicised it so that its members, the citizens know about it. “Those alleging that CCEDU entered a deal with EC should prove it, by showing the public that MoU.” Kaheru tells The Independent that it was the principled dialogue and pressure from the citizens across the country that influenced a change in mind on the EC side.
“We would never in any way compromise our integrity as a citizens’ coalition.” He adds, “I want to believe that CCEDU will always maintain its independence and professionalism as it executes its mandate.”
On his legacy, Kaheru speaks proudly about what CCEDU achieved in his tenure. “In 2011, CCEDU pioneered the approach of scrutinising electoral events that happen outside major elections, including monitoring by-elections”
He is also proud of voter mobilisation campaigns like ‘Vote Issues not Wolokoso’ for the 2011 polls, ‘Topowa’ (Don’t give up) for the 2016 elections which he says he designed. “All these campaigns yielded phenomenal dividends-they mobilised Ugandans to actively engage in elections.”
Kaheru says CCEDU now has national and international respect and credibility. “CCEDU is now the go-to institution for credible election information. It is the reference entity on elections for citizens, government as well as international actors interested in Uganda”.
At 35, Kaheru is planning his next move satisfied with what he leaves behind at CCEDU. “I doubt there is any institution at this moment that can match our databank on electoral processes in Uganda.”
Richard Ssewakiryanga, the executive director of Uganda National NGO Forum (UNNFOF), an independent platform for all NGOs, spoke to The Independent about the departure of his colleague.
“I treat it as a normal departure. He voluntarily steps down.” Sewakiryanga however added that the NGO space can be tough. “We work in conditions that are stressful.”
Government crackdown
On the other hand, there is a simmering crack-down on NGOs from government. In August, the government through the Ministry of Internal Affairs and National NGO Bureau carried out a validation exercise for NGOs which many NGO bosses described as “intrusive”.
The Bureau demanded from NGOs details on number of staff, what they earn, their contracts, board members and donors. Many NGO directors expressed reservations about the process due to weak data privacy laws in Uganda among other things.
Coinciding with the validation exercise was a directive by Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA), the government agency that deals with financial fraud, to Equity Bank to avail it with bank details of 13 specific NGOs. CCEDU was one of them.
The others included were Action Aid International Uganda, Alliance for Campaign Finance Monitoring, Anti-Corruption Coalition Uganda, Human Rights Network Uganda, and Foundation for Human Rights Initiative. They are some of the most vocal on democracy and governance.
In June, the Democratic Governance Facility (DGF), the largest pool of donor funding in Uganda terminated partnership with four NGOs after a forensic audit unearthed corruption and gross mismanagement.
A statement the Swedish Ambassador Per Lindgarde issued to Daily Monitor read “Unfortunately the conclusions of the forensic audit confirmed incidences of fraudulent practices, governance issues and forgery of accountability.” Sweden is one of the partners behind DGF.
As Kaheru leaves, with the above setbacks and fifteen months left to the 2021 general elections, the space for civil society will hopefully not get narrower.
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