The NGO act and the operational security of amnesty international in Uganda

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between the NGO legal framework, specifically the Non-Governmental Organizations Act, 2016, and the operational security of Amnesty International in Uganda. The study sought to: examine the effect of registration requirements under the NGO Act on the operational security of Amnesty International; assess the impact of funding restrictions imposed by the Act on the organization’s operational security; and analyze the influence of reporting and disclosure obligations on operational security. The study adopted a concurrent mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative techniques, and employed a correlational research design. A sample size of 45 respondents was selected from Amnesty International staff and related stakeholders. Key findings revealed statistically significant negative relationships between the NGO Act’s regulatory dimensions and operational security. Registration requirements had a strong negative correlation with operational security (r = -.683, p < .001), and regression analysis showed they explained 46.6% of the variance (R² = 0.466). Funding restrictions demonstrated an even stronger negative correlation (r = -.715, p < .001), accounting for 51.1% of the variance (R² = 0.511). Reporting and disclosure obligations had the most severe impact, with a correlation of (r = -.731, p < .001), explaining 53.4% of the variance (R² = 0.534). The study concluded that while the NGO Act was intended to foster an enabling environment for NGOs, its implementation had instead introduced substantial operational insecurity for international human rights organizations. The study recommended that the Ugandan government and stakeholders revise the NGO Act to streamline registration procedures, remove unnecessary funding restrictions, and ensure that reporting obligations do not compromise operational autonomy. Strengthening legal safeguards to protect NGO independence while ensuring accountability was identified as essential for preserving the operational security of international organizations such as Amnesty International.