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Towards an enabling NGO regulatory framework in Uganda: comparative experiences from Eastern and Southern Africa

Includes bibliographical references.

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Sewanyana, Livingstone
Other Authors: Corder, Hugh
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: Department of Public Law 2014
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access_status_str Open Access
author Sewanyana, Livingstone
author2 Corder, Hugh
author_browse Corder, Hugh
Sewanyana, Livingstone
author_facet Corder, Hugh
Sewanyana, Livingstone
author_sort Sewanyana, Livingstone
collection Thesis
description Includes bibliographical references.
format Thesis
id oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/9538
institution University of Cape Town (South Africa)
language eng
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:32:17.361Z
license_str Not specified — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository
publishDate 2014
publishDateRange 2014
publishDateSort 2014
publisher Department of Public Law
publisherStr Department of Public Law
record_format dspace
source_str UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository
spelling oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/9538 Towards an enabling NGO regulatory framework in Uganda: comparative experiences from Eastern and Southern Africa Sewanyana, Livingstone Corder, Hugh Chirwa, Danwood Mzikenge Includes bibliographical references. Uganda, like many other sub-Saharan African countries, has experienced a rapid increase in the number of NGOs since the 1990s. This growth can be attributed to the democratic reforms introduced by the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Government since 1986. Among these reforms was the promulgation of the Uganda Constitution, 1995, with an extensive bill of rights. The increase in NGO activities brought two important challenges: the challenge of their legitimacy and competition for political space. The Uganda Government reacted by imposing a state-led NGO regulatory framework seemingly to ensure the accountability and transparency of NGOs. This thesis investigates the existing regulatory models for NGOs and explores possible reforms to establish an appropriate NGO regulatory framework that upholds internationally accepted human rights principles in Uganda. The thesis investigates these issues within the historical context of Uganda and Africa in general, as well as theories of democracies that stresses participation, accountability and respect for individual liberties, in particular, the right to freedom of association. The thesis concludes that the regulatory framework of NGOs in Uganda does not meet the basic requirements for the right to freedom of association as provided in Uganda's Constitution, and the international and regional human rights treaties to which Uganda is a party. The thesis finds that Uganda's NGO regulatory framework is controlling, and burdensome, and does not create a conducive environment for inclusiveness and public participation. The thesis proposes a state-NGO led regulatory model that allows for self-regulation alongside minimal state regulation of NGOs. This model would entail the establishment of an autonomous NGO regulatory authority in Uganda composed of members selected autonomously by NGOs and 'decriminalisation' of NGO activities, reducing the powers of the state-led regulatory model, and increasing the involvement of NGOs in the state-led regulatory framework. 2014-11-11T07:01:04Z 2014-11-11T07:01:04Z 2014 Doctoral Thesis Doctoral PhD http://hdl.handle.net/11427/9538 eng application/pdf Department of Public Law Faculty of Law University of Cape Town
spellingShingle Sewanyana, Livingstone
Towards an enabling NGO regulatory framework in Uganda: comparative experiences from Eastern and Southern Africa
thesis_degree_str Doctoral
title Towards an enabling NGO regulatory framework in Uganda: comparative experiences from Eastern and Southern Africa
title_full Towards an enabling NGO regulatory framework in Uganda: comparative experiences from Eastern and Southern Africa
title_fullStr Towards an enabling NGO regulatory framework in Uganda: comparative experiences from Eastern and Southern Africa
title_full_unstemmed Towards an enabling NGO regulatory framework in Uganda: comparative experiences from Eastern and Southern Africa
title_short Towards an enabling NGO regulatory framework in Uganda: comparative experiences from Eastern and Southern Africa
title_sort towards an enabling ngo regulatory framework in uganda comparative experiences from eastern and southern africa
url http://hdl.handle.net/11427/9538
work_keys_str_mv AT sewanyanalivingstone towardsanenablingngoregulatoryframeworkinugandacomparativeexperiencesfromeasternandsouthernafrica