Outgoing NGO Bureau chief tips entity on efficiency

Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) Bureau chairperson Simon Kinobe has tipped his entity to thrive following the rationalisation process, which has returned it to its mother ministry.

Kinobe, who is also Ex-Uganda Law Society president, said the decision to return the bureau to the internal affairs ministry will ease the mobilisation of operational funds, which has been difficult previously.

"One of the areas that could benefit is the automation of processes to ease the renewal of permits by NGOs in the country," he said.

"I come to the reception and find people waiting for renewals. In this day and age of ICT? No, no. The NGO bureau system has to be automated so you can upload your things and only come to us when there are problems," he said while speaking at the quarterly dialogue meeting between NGO leaders and the internal affairs ministry late last week.

The event was presided over by the ministry's state minister, Gen. David Muhoozi, organised by the Human Rights Centre Uganda in partnership with the NGO Bureau, with support from the Irish embassy.

During the event, Kinobe confirmed that after the rationalisation is completed, several positions will be abolished, including his.

"It has been an honour and privilege serving my country. Honourable minister (Muhoozi) I would like you to take my thanks to your team, Cabinet, together with the head of state for having given me this opportunity to wear the cost of board chairperson, " he said.

President Yoweri Museveni, in early September, assured Ugandans that after the rationalisation process, the ministries would have the capacity to carry out all the Government work and would be fully supported.

While addressing the parliamentary caucus of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) at the State House Entebbe on September 6, 2024, Museveni agreed with the MPs on the rationalisation that this is a fundamental strategy for optimal resource allocation.

Under the arrangement, over 20 agencies are returning to their mother ministries in a bid to ton down public expenditure.