Govt, NGOs to share development plans

By John Odyek

The Government wants non-government organisations (NGOs) to align their projects to government’s development priorities.

James Baba, the state minister for internal affairs, said NGOs should strive to understand government priorities and work on them both in the local and central governments.

Baba made the remarks while closing the national civil society fair at Hotel Africana in Kampala on Friday.

“The Cabinet has charged the Ministry of Internal Affairs in consultation with the Minister of Finance to closely work with NGOs to ensure that your projects are aligned with government priorities,” he said.

The National Development Plan outlines various strategies for the socio-economic transformation of Uganda from a peasant economy to a modern and prosperous country within 30 years.

Baba said: “We also want to initiate a formal and structured way to document your (NGO) contribution to the country’s development and wellbeing. We will work with the relevant ministries, departments and agencies.”

He promised to enhance the co-ordination of NGO stakeholders to ensure improved communication flow aimed at promoting smooth relations between the Government and the NGOs.