The government of Ugandan has halted the activities of 54 non-governmental organisations operating in the country in an effort to tighten control over civil society.

One such organisations is the country’s most prominent rights organisation, Chapter Four. The National Bureau for NGOs, part of the ministry of internal affairs, said in a statement the shutdown was ordered with immediate effect.

Chapter Four executive director, Nicholas Opiyo, confirmed his group had received the government’s order to close and described the situation as “serious”.

The decision was made because the groups had failed to comply with legislation covering their activities, including operating with expired permits, failing to file accounts, or failing to register with the authorities.

Some of the organisations ordered to close down had taken part in an election monitoring operation on polling day in January which was raided by security forces and several of their leaders arrested.

The election saw President Yoweri Museveni returned for a sixth term in office after a violent campaign marked by the harassment and arrest of opposition figures, attacks on the media and the deaths of several dozen people.