Ssemakadde pins activists Agather, Spire and Toko over AGORA funds, Anti-Corruption body speaks out

Kampala, (UG):- Maverick city lawyer Isaac Kimaze Ssemakadde has “opened war” against social media activists Agather Atuhaire, Godwin Toko and Dr Jimmy Spire Ssentongo for failing to show accountability of funds received through their Agora Centre for Research Ltd, a justice centre-led organization based in Kampala.

Mr Ssemakadde, the Founder and Executive Director of Legal Brains Trust accuses the activists of deviating from the intended goals of the USAID-CIPESA project, which was supposed to support democratic discourse in Uganda.

In his Tuesday statement addressed to USAID in Uganda, the US Embassy in Kampala, and relevant authorities, the renowned city lawyer says; “Despite the YRA Funding, Agora has responded to calls for transparency and accountability with defensiveness, privacy violations, intimidation, and harassment of dissenting voices.

This behaviour, according to Ssemakadde is unacceptable, especially because it involves American tax dollars and could undermine democratic values promoted by USAID.

“We urge Agora to correct their course, adhere to the original grant objectives, and respect democratic engagement, privacy, and non-discrimination principles,” he added.

Failure to do so, Ssemakadde says “will lead to further action, including legal consequences, to protect the rights and safety of individuals targeted by Agora’s malevolent actions.”

The Ugandan lawyer joins Ugandan-US journalist Remmy Bahati who recently threatened Godwin Toko that she will directly to Dr Monde Muyangwa, the USAID Assistant Administrator for Africa and compel her to “scrutinise your questionable activism and ensure our funds are supporting democracy, not hooliganism”.

“I’m fully capable of taking that step, and I will if necessary. If we’re funding you/ NGOs, they must uphold the highest standards,” the former NBS TV Reporter said in a social media post.

However, Toko, in a response on X, took the steam out of the threat by sharing a rib-cracking teaser about how Ms Bahati had scared the wits out of him.

The critics, especially Taylor who goes by the handle name Justice Hunter on X, formerly Twitter, have accused the trio of refusing to respond to accountability queries they are demanding.

Anti-Corruption Body speaks out

Mr Marlon Agaba, executive director of Anti-Corruption Coalition Uganda when contacted was quick to leap to the defence of the Agora activists, saying NGOs do not throw their accountability on social media as the Justice Hunters are demanding.

Mr Agaba said Agora is a new anti-graft watchdog that should be given time to grow. “They may make a few mistakes here and there, but we need them in this space, and they should be supported to grow and not attacked,” he said.

He added that NGOs by their nature fundraise and receive funding from donors and that most of these donors are in Western Europe and USA.

“Agora as an NGO is entitled to fundraise and implement activities in line with their mandate. They have also published their funders. I haven’t seen any report where any donor has accused them of impropriety, and knowing the strictness of donors like USAID, if there were any financial issues, they would act immediately,” Mr Agaba concluded.

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