News - Africa Freedom of Information Centre

The Executive Director, HIM, shares their ATI journey in Uganda

Africa Freedom of Information Centre and the Hub for Investigative Media conducted an assessment on the status of implementation of the Access to Information Act 2005 in Uganda. A shadow report was presented to the Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda. This report examines current progress in implementation of Uganda’s Access […]

Ministry of ICT & National Guidance pledges to promote internet rights and freedoms in Uganda

Across the world, violations of internet rights and freedoms have been common ranging from internet shutdowns, disruptions and surveillance among others. The right to Internet access, also known as the right to broadband or freedom to connect, is the view that all people must be able to access the Internet in order to exercise and enjoy their rights to […]

Increasing awareness on adoption of Open Contracting Data Standards in Ghana

Procurement breaches are estimated to make up almost 90% of corruption cases, and therefore adoption of e-procurement (reputed to reduce corruption by preventing human interface) could save countries up to 2% of GDP. To this end, the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) has been increasing awareness on effective implementation of the Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) […]

Kanungu: CSOs, Community Monitors and the Media agree to work together

Africa Freedom of Information Centre, with support from the Democratic Governance Facility, brought together members of civil society, community monitors and the media to talk about sustainable ways of increasing citizen participation in monitoring public contracts for better service delivery. AFIC has been training local citizens on the importance of open contracting and how they […]

Open Contracting for universal healthcare; Which way Uganda?

The health sector is one of the key sectors in Uganda and is one of the most funded sectors after Works and Transport, Education and Energy. Over the last three financial years, the budgetary allocation for the health sector has steadily increased. In financial year 2018-2019, the budget for Uganda increased by 26 % from […]

What importance does the Right to Information hold for Women?

Often in our societies it is the most vulnerable and marginalized populations who suffer the greatest due to limited access to information. This is particularly true for women. In many countries, one-half of the population may be limited in their full enjoyment of the right to information and the myriad benefits that it provides. Women […]

Conducting an End of Term Evaluation project evaluation TORs

TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR CONDUCTING AN END OF TERM EVALUATION FOR THE PROJECT IMPROVING SOCIAL SERVICE DELIVERY TO CITIZENS THROUGH OPEN CONTRACTING IN UGANDA 1.0: Introduction 1.1: About AFIC Africa Freedom of Information Centre is a pan-African membership civil society organization registered in 2007 in Nigeria and established in 2009 in Uganda. It […]

FOI Rankings: How PPDC is improving transparency in Nigeria

We need access to information. No one can make informed decisions on issues that affect them without access to information Through ATI, press freedom and freedom of association can grow. Governments can be held accountable, and corruption can be exposed. When the United Nations was established, all countries acknowledged the fundamental value of free information. […]

Call to adopt mining values and principles in East Africa.

East African Community countries have been challenged to fully adopt African Mining Vision (AMV) principles and values that outline transparent, equitable and optimal exploitation of mineral resources in the region. The AMV, which was formally adopted by African heads of state in 2009, has not achieved its target as member countries are struggling with illicit […]

Road to 2030: Access to Information in the driver’s seat.

Together with GFMD, Deutsche Welle Akademie, Centre for Law and Democracy and Africa Free Press Unlimited we released the report “Road to 2030: Access To Information in the driver’s seat” about the state of public Access To Information (ATI) in 10 countries worldwide. The report analyses and compares data related to ATI policies from Canada, […]

Where does pressure for public procurement transparency come from? Reflections from Uganda and Tanzania

For years, the benefits of transparency as a policy tool to increase accountability and counter corruption have been lauded. In public procurement, this has given rise to a global movement promoting procurement data transparency, a.k.a. open contracting. Many governments have committed to making public procurement data more transparent and open for public scrutiny. But what […]

Corruption: How Kenya is fighting back through Open Contracting

In December 2019, the Open Contracting Partnership (OCP) invited Africa Freedom of Information Centre (AFIC) to share its experience of working with PPDA to promote Open Contracting at a workshop in Nairobi. OCP conducted the workshop in collaboration with the PPRA and Hivos East Africa. The Ksh22 million bathroom towels On my way to the Intercontinental Hotel, where […]

AFIC advocates for Open Contracting in Uganda

Since 2011, AFIC has collaborated with PPDA in promoting value for money in public contracting through citizens’ access to information and public participation (open contracting). Through this partnership, the Uganda Contracts Monitoring Coalition (UCMC) was established, its members trained on basic procurement laws, tools for citizen monitoring of contracts developed and proposals made for policy […]

Young people decry social media tax in Uganda

In a public notice OTT Tax dated June 29, 2018, Uganda Revenue Authority informed Ugandans that following directives from the government a new tax would be imposed on OTT services involving applications that offer voice and messaging over the internet. This took effect on July 1, 2018, as a new financial year started. The government […]

Promoting transparency and citizen participation through Open Data

Data can be defined as a series of observations, measurements or facts. When data is put in context, it becomes information. Open data, also known as linked data is data that is openly published online and is free for anyone to use, modify and share. In order for the data to be considered “Open,” it […]

Kabale Central Market conflict highlights the need for Open Contracting

Following a one year stalemate due to disputes between the owners of the kiosks and Kabale Municipal Council, the reconstruction of the Kabale Central Market began finally kicked off in December 2019. Chongqing International Construction[CICCO], a Chinese firm, has been contracted to rebuild the market at UGX 23 billion. The contract was signed on October […]

AFIC presents the Shadow Report on the Status of Implementation of the Access to Information Act 2005 in Uganda.

AFIC presents The Shadow Report on the Status of Implementation of the Access to Information Act 2005 in Uganda Today the 12th of December, 2019, Africa Freedom of Information Centre and Hub for Investigative Media presented a Shadow Report on the implementation of the Access to Information Act (ATIA) to Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, Speaker […]

AFIC participate in the 6th Global Partnership for Social Accountability Forum

Every year the World Bank’s Global Partnership for Social Accountability (GPSA) brings together over 300 partners from government, civil society and development cooperations to join together and find solutions to development challenges and learn from one another. 2019 was not any different, the forum was organized to focus on the role of social accountability in […]

People with Disabilities demand accessibility to the newly constructed classroom blocks in Kisenge Primary School.

Africa Freedom of Information Centre (AFIC) trained Mr Okumu Fabian on Access to Information, Open Contracting and contracts monitoring in November 2018 together with other selected community monitors in Nebbi district. Equipped with the knowledge about community monitoring, Mr Okumu and other monitors started monitoring the construction of Kisenge primary school which was aided by […]

AFIC advocates for healthy lives and well-being for all at all ages through access to information

Citizens’ access to information plays a vital role in promoting the realization of their right to health. It facilitates freedom of choice and quality of public education. It enables citizens to be aware of the medicine, treatment, and services available to them in the health sector. Access to information allows them to know what to […]

The Chief Executive Officer, PPDC, shares their Open Contracting journey in Nigeria

As part of its National Action Plan 2017-2019, Nigeria is currently implementing 14 commitments. Public and Private Development Center (PPDC) is the leading civil society organization championing Open Contracting work and monitoring the progress of Nigeria’s National Action Plan implementation. Ms Nkem Ilo is also chairperson of AFIC’s Open Contracting Working Group. AFIC Newsletter team […]

Africa Freedom of Information Centre and Hivos host the Africa Local Open Contracting Initiative Regional Workshop

Africa Freedom of Information Centre, in partnership with Hivos East Africa, held the Africa Local Open Contracting Initiative (LOCI) Regional Workshop in Arusha, Tanzania on the 26th of November 2019. The Local Open Contracting initiatives (LOCI) is a global linking and learning mechanism for sub-national, local, and city-level Open Contracting (OC) initiatives and reforms that […]

The East African Public Procurement Authorities resolve to fast-track Open Contracting

The public procurement oversight agencies for Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania have resolved to fast-track open contracting by proactively publishing data in Open Contracting Data Standards formats and promote monitoring of contracts by none state actors. They also resolved to promote participation in the participation of special interest groups like women, youth and people […]

Agriculture Critical Issues for Government’s attention

Through the World Bank-supported Global Programme for Social Accountability (GPSA) under the Africa Freedom of Information Centre (AFIC) in collaboration with the Uganda Contracts Monitoring Coalition (UCMC) undertook a process of monitoring the agriculture procurement process in selected districts of Ntungamo, Nebbi, Mubende and, Nakaseke to ascertain the efficiency of agricultural contracts’ execution and thereafter […]

Change is Possible with Citizens’ Participation in Contracts Monitoring

In 2016, Africa Freedom of Information Center (AFIC) in collaboration with the Uganda Contracts Monitoring Coalition (UCMC) recruited and trained 40 community monitors in Ntungamo district on access to information and contract monitoring with support from the World Bank’s Global Social Accountability Partnership. Over the past three years, Kenneth Mushabe, one of the training beneficiaries […]

Community Monitor’s vigilance leads to improved learning outcomes

Until February 2017, Africa Freedom of Information Centre (AFIC)’s and Uganda Contracts Monitoring Coalition (UCMC)’s efforts to access contracts in the select local governments were futile because contracts’ information disclosure was a new animal in the eyes and ears of the public officials. Most of the public officials didn’t understand this whole phenomenal until they […]

Condolences for the loss of Board Member, Mr Alfredo Cantero

Africa Freedom of Information Centre (AFIC)- CoST International’s- Africa Regional Manager has learned with deep regret the demise of our friend and leader, Mr Alfredo Jose Cantero. Alfredo believed that transparency matters and that public officials were important in making transparency deliver for the people. This was his passion. His message and experience shared with […]

Uganda Launches Framework for Collaborating with CSOs to Improve Public Procurement Outcomes

Uganda’s Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Mr Matia Kasaija has launched a Framework for Collaboration between the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA), Procuring and Disposing Entities (PDEs) and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to improve procurement outcomes. The launch took place at the opening of the Public Procurement Performance Review […]

Exclusive Interview with Executive Director, AFIC on the International Day of Universal Access to Information

AFIC has supported campaigns for the adoption of ATI laws in many African countries and this continues as more than half of African Union member states are yet to make progress of on this SDG target regarding adoption and implementation of access to information laws

Why Access to Information is critical for citizens and governments

Citizens should care because information allows them to participate in priority setting and decision-making, to hold their government accountable, and to assure equal treatment and equal justice

Rethinking the Role of Media in Promoting Effective Social Accountability

Media plays a crucial role in facilitating democracy and promoting rights and equitable development.

Making Open Contracting a Norm: Open Contracting Module Incorporated in the Public Procurement and Contract Management Training.

Having partnered with Public Procurement and Disposal Authority to redesign the Government Procurement Portal, AFIC realizes that there is need to increase disclosure levels on the portal and inculcating open contracting in the norm of public procurement of Uganda.

AU – EU Civil Society Seminar – Ensuring respect for human rights in the context of migration and forced displacement

Africa Freedom of Information Centre (AFIC) was among the 40 African and European Civil Society including diaspora, that participated in the 9th African Union-European Union Civil Society Seminar on Human Rights which was held in Banjul on 15-16 October 2019. This year’s Civil Society seminar discussions centred on “Ensuring respect for Human Rights in the […]

The United Nations General Assembly Proclaims 28th September as the International Day for Universal Access to Information

We observe, especially in Africa, that individual agencies among the 24 countries that have adopted ATI laws neither allocate budgetary provision nor put in place procedures for effective implementation.

CoST African members convene in Addis Ababa

It notes that informed citizens and responsive public institutions help to drive the needed reforms that ensured mismanagement, inefficiencies, corruption and the risks posed to the public from poor infrastructure are minimized.

Africa Freedom of Information Centre Strongly Condemns Violence Against Journalists in Uganda

It has been reported that Godfrey Twesigye of NTV, Alex Esagala Nation Media Group and Stephen Mbidde NTV among others were performing their duty covering exchanges between students and the military, were attacked by soldiers, physically injuring them and traumatizing them emotionally.

Open contracting: The bricks and mortar of public benefit!

Every year, governments spend huge sums of money through contracts, on everything from pencils and paper to building major infrastructure projects such as airports. Open contracting is the bricks and mortar of public benefit, where taxpayers’ money gets converted into schools, roads and hospitals, into things that ordinary people really care about. Open contracting is […]

Access To Information and Elections in Africa

The right of access to information guaranteed by Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Charter) is an invaluable component of democracy, as it goes a long way in facilitating participation in public affairs. The importance of the right of access to information is underpinned by the fact that […]

ACHPR must expand, not limit civil society participation

This article was originally published on the IFEX website. The original can be found here. Twenty-eight civil society groups are calling on the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights to broaden rather than limit civil society observation and participation in its activities. The Chairperson,African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, CC: HE. Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, […]

Campaign for an International Day on Universal Access to Information Gets Huge Boost

The campaign for proclaiming September 28th as the International Day for Universal Access to Information got a major boost on July 16, 2019 when the Republic of Liberia announced that it will sponsor the United Nations General Assembly on the matter. The announcement was made during a coordinating meeting held at the side lines of […]

Matooke over lunch – A meal like no other at the World Bank

It was on July 10, 2019 when the Africa Freedom of Information Centre (AFIC) was invited by the World Bank Country Office in Uganda to its special Matooke Lunch. The matooke lunch is a very competitive meeting space to which the Bank selectively invites institutions and individuals with topical issues that are of interest to […]

Road to 2030: Access to Information in the driver’s seat

GFMD, in collaboration with Deutsche Welle Akademie and Free Press Unlimited, in consultation with the Centre for Law and Democracy and Africa Freedom of Information Centre are pleased to announce the release of the “Road to 2030: Access to Information in the driver’s seat” – a report on the state of public Access to Information (ATI) in ten Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) countries. The […]

Access to Information gains momentum in New York

“As a country that has experienced conflict and a major public health crisis such as the Ebola pandemic, Liberia appreciates the value of access to information in combating problems of this scale, and knows firsthand what lack of information can mean for a society – the difference between life and death.” This statement was part […]

Several dozen flock to UNODC training

Close to 80 people flocked to the Fairway Hotel and Spa for a workshop aimed at skilling a select set of women, men and the youth who are presently involved in private business with corruption fighting skills in Kampala. The meeting was organised by the Africa Freedom of Information Society with support from the United […]

GPSA MANAGER: CITIZENS MUST HAVE SAY IN GOVERNANCE

Jeff Thindwa, the Program Manager for the Global Partnership for Social Accountability (GPSA) in the Governance Global Practice at the World Bank. He was in Uganda earlier in April to attend the Africa Freedom of Information (AFIC) and World Bank – Uganda Country office organised Social Accountability Learning Symposium held at the Hotel Africana. […]

Minister Bahati lauds AFIC for people centred activities

The Minister of State for Planning in the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Hon. David Bahati, has lauded the Africa Freedom of Information Centre (AFIC) for putting people at the fore front of the programmes they support. “I appreciate the support of World Bank and the Africa Freedom of Information Centre together […]

AFIC’s ED gets second nod to IFEX Governing Council

The Africa Freedom of Information Centre’s executive director, Mr. Gilbert Sendugwa has been elected to the governing council of IFEX for a consecutive two-year term. IFEX, the International Freedom of Expression Exchange, is an umbrella body that brings together over 120 civil society organisations spanning all continents and is made up of journalists, artists, […]

AFIC congratulates Ghana on ATI law

The Africa Freedom of Information Centre joins the freedom of information advocates worldwide in congratulating Ghana over the passing of its Right to Information law. This has come after about two decades of protracted talks and a number of changes at Osu Castle, the Presidential residence in Ghana, the Right to Information legislation has finally […]

Government Procurement Portal redesigned with users’ needs in mind

Monitoring and tracking public contracts has been an important part of our work at Africa Freedom of Information Centre (AFIC). Now, we’ll have better data and more opportunities to do so. This wasn’t always the case. We went through a period of frustration especially between April – August, 2018, when the Ugandan Government Procurement Portal […]

Making Public Contracts Work for People: Experiences from Uganda

Human capital development in developing countries is affected by lack of adequate investment and leakage of the little resources that are devoted to uplift communities. What happened to the Kasenge Primary School in northwest Uganda’s Nebbi District can help illustrate this. In 1994 the community, with the help of the […]

African countries affirm to enhance Infrastructure Transparency – CoST

Over the last nine years, four African countries – Ethiopia, Malawi, Uganda and Tanzania have made concerted effort towards institutional reform for transparency and citizen participation in infrastructure with focus on strengthening policy and institutional frameworks, by embracing CoST – the Infrastructure Transparency Initiative. To consolidate these gains and respond to the growing demand, CoST […]

CoST-Bridging The Infrastructure Transparency Gap In Uganda

This extract was published in the Ministry of Works and Transport Handbook, 2018; CoST – the Infrastructure Transparency Initiative is the leading global initiative improving transparency and accountability in public infrastructure. CoST works with government, industry and civil society to promote the disclosure, validation and interpretation of data from infrastructure projects. This helps to inform and empower citizens and enables […]

AFIC Software developer Job description

OVERVIEW Authority. The Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA) was established under the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act 2003. Under the Act and the Regulations issued there under, the Authority is mandated to regulate  public procurement and disposal of public assets in the Uganda. The Authority regulates over 300 procuring and disposing entities (PDEs). Africa Freedom of Information […]

Empowering citizens to influence change: Experience from GPSA project in Uganda

According to Article 38 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, 1995, every Ugandan has a right to participate in the affairs of the government individually and or through his or her representatives in accordance with the law. With funding from the World Bank’s Global Partnership for Social Accountability (GPSA), the Africa Freedom of […]

What Next After Disclosure: Initiative to Develop Use Cases for Public Procurement Data in Uganda

Since 2014, AFIC has prioritised citizens’ access to and use of public contracting information (open contracting) to advance reforms in public procurement, a complex yet one of the most important sectors of the economy in Africa. In 2015, AFIC started a campaign for African governments to recognise the importance of open contracting to improving efficiency, […]

Light in the Tunnel: Scaling Up Open Contracting to improve public contracting outcomes in Africa

Governments worldwide spend over $9.5 trillion annually in public contracting. However, in Africa, an increase of the budget allocated to economic and social development do not match the quality and quantity of the public service delivery. One of the attributes to the poor services delivery has been a lack of public participation in government projects […]

Building a strong CoST Africa: AFIC Appointed CoST Africa Regional Manager

With humility AFIC is pleased at its being appointed by CoST- Infrastructure Transparency Initiative as Africa Regional Manager. The appointment represents a strong confidence and recognition of the work AFIC has done in facilitating the growth of CoST Uganda and its open contracting portfolio in general. AFIC has over the past 18 month been hosting […]

National Forum Calls on Uganda Government to Increase Funding for Oversight Bodies to improve Service Delivery

Participants of a multi-stakeholder accountability forum organised by Africa Freedom of Information Centre (AFIC) in partnership with Oxfam have made an urgent call for government to increase funding for accountability institutions such as the Inspectorate of Government, Office of the Auditor General and the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority. Participants also called […]

A case of access to information in Uganda

The right of access to information is tightly linked to other fundamental rights such as access to education, health or food. It is also necessary for realising an open, transparent and accountable governance. Without information, citizens are unable to identify causes of poor public service delivery, monitor the effectiveness of their rights and ask for […]

Get In Touch

Category: News

Join Us By Becoming A Member

Quick Links

Contact Info

Subscribe