• On 4th February 2021, Government of Uganda indefinitely suspended operations of the Democratic Governance Facility (DGF) thus crippling the work of over 75 CSOs and various state institutions that were beneficiaries of the DGF fund. 
• It is estimated that over 10,000 workers and their families were affected in terms of access to employment thereby affecting government revenue in form of taxes. 
• The DGF closure has widened the service delivery gap most especially affecting the poor, vulnerable and marginalized who were the primary beneficiaries of DGF funded services in areas of Education, Health, Legal aid and Access to Justice services. It’s unimaginable to think how over 80% of Ugandans in need of legal aid are coping with the ongoing DGF suspension.  
• In 2020 DGF was able to reach 67,681 people through provision of Legal aid services while on the other hand over 12,912 people were empowered through outreach and sensitization.
• Therefore, over 67,681 beneficiaries of DGF are constrained to access justice since many Legal Aid Service Providers have either downsized their operations or closed offices. 
• The prison congestion is at unprecedented levels with a population of 68,561 inmates as of April 2022 vis-à-vis the approved holding capacity of 19,986. These leaves majority of the inmates who are mainly youth with no hope of regaining their liberty since they cannot afford legal aid services thereby contributing and worsening the state of Human Rights violations in Uganda. 
• Ultimately the closure of DGF has in many ways weighed down on Uganda’s struggling economy through loss of jobs and taxes that were initially paid by DGF funded staff and service providers like Hotels, Stationery, Consultants, Media, Transport to mention but a few.

A call to Action

Please sign this online petition and call upon H.E the President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to immediately re-open DGF and save the human rights situation; livelihoods of many Ugandans as well as the deteriorating Economy!!!