Trouble for the organizers of the recently flopped “March to Parliament” protest over failed accountability for the funds received to facilitate the demonstration has deepened and is taking on new twists day by day.
Top among those on the lists include a local journalist and activist, Agatha Atuhaire, the Executive Director of Agora Centre for Research Ltd., Godwin Toko, and Jimmy Spire Ssentongo, among others.
The latest is that the city lawyer, Isaac Ssemakadde, also the founder and executive director of the Legal Brains Trust, has expressed concern about how the group spent the funds they received from well-wishers.
Ssemakadde has threatened to take legal action against the team should they fail to provide accountability for the USD 200,000 advanced to them from USAID.
He said the team, these individuals, and their organization have drifted from the core objectives set forth by the USAID-CIPESA project under the Your Rights Activity (YRA) campaign, which aims to promote democratic discourse in Uganda.
Ssemakadde emphasized that the digital actions of Agora (Atuhaire) and its leaders have not only deviated from their original mission but have also harmed the democratic landscape of the country by failing to offer accountability and instead turning abusive to whoever demands it.
“Spire and his colleagues have turned defensive and resorted to intimidation and privacy breaches, which have reportedly targeted the likes of Justice Hunter and Remmy Bahati. Anyone who holds them accountable is considered an enemy. They should declare all the funds advanced to them and account for them,” Ssemakadde said.
He added that this behavior is unacceptable, especially since its funding comes from American tax dollars, which need to be accounted for, and that such actions could undermine the democratic values and rule of law that USAID seeks to promote.
“The Legal Brains Trust is urging Agora to correct its course, adhere to the original grant objectives, and respect principles of democratic engagement and non-discrimination,” the statement read in part.
Ssemakadde’s call for accountability highlights the importance of transparency and ethical conduct, which has been echoed by Hunter and Bahati.
Ssemakadde’s threats follow the personal attacks and refusal of Agora and its leadership to provide accountability as requested by Hunter and Bahati.
