By JIMMY ODOKI ACELLAM
The Democratic Governance Facility (DGF) was established in 2011 by eight Development Partners: Austria, Denmark, European Union, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and United Kingdom. DGF implements activities through Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), state and non-state actors. The cluster areas of intervention by DGF are; Accountability (government accountability towards citizens), Human Rights and Access to Justice (addressing violence, torture and impunity), Women’s and Youth Empowerment (upholding pro-gender equality legislation) for better democratic processes and good governance.
The vision of Democratic Governance Facility is: “A Uganda where citizens are empowered to engage in democratic governance and where the state upholds citizens’ rights.” The first phase of DGF programs were implemented from 2011 -2016. An evaluation of the first phase of DGF showed good outcomes that led to the current phase of DGFII program, which started in January 2018. Originally planned to end this December with possibility of renewal; it hit a snag last year and won’t be renewed anymore. President Yoweri Museveni ordered the suspension of Democratic Governance Facility activities in 2021. Later in June this year, due to negotiations, the President lifted the suspension to allow DGF wind up its activities.
Democratic Governance Facility works in partnership with local implementing partners to carry out activities that promote and underpin democratic governance, including civil society engagement with government, understanding of rights of citizens through civic education. Partner organizations are supported financially to enable implementation of these activities. Some of the implementing partners and beneficiaries of DGF support are; Human Rights Network for Journalists- Uganda (HRNJ-U), Anti-Corruption Coalition Uganda (ACCU), African Centre for Media Excellence (ACME), Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE), Gulu Women Economic Development and Globalisation(GWED-G), Action Aid International Uganda (AAIU).
Others are; Uganda Human Rights Commission, the Institute of Parliamentary Studies, the Parliament of Uganda, Uganda Law Society (ULS) and Uganda Law Council to mention but a few. Through DGF, more than a trillion shillings has been pumped into Uganda’s economy. Hundreds of Ugandans have got employment through grants provided by the Democratic Governance Facility. The manner in which DGF has been forced to leave means hundreds of Ugandans will lose their jobs, programs like provision of legal aid Accountability in governance, Human Rights and Access to Justice, Empowerment of the Youth and the Women, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) are going to be scaled down massively.
Lawyer and Executive Director of an NGO, Chapter Four in an interview with Daily Monitor had this to say: “The impact of DGF forced withdrawal will be profound on so many levels and will only be felt in its fullest with the passing of time…..Importantly, the closure of DGF will further cement the reputation of Uganda as hostile to civil liberties.” Also, the strengthening of democratic processes that respond to citizens’ rights, enhanced gender equality, civic education in the country will generally be affected as well as accountability through budget monitoring and local government scorecards given to both the state and non-state actors by DGF.
