ISO, ESO to authorise NGO formation
PARLIAMENT on Friday passed the Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) Registration Amendment Bill 2001 which requires NGOs and evangelical churches to renew their registration permits annually.
BY HENRY MUKASA AND APOLLO MUBIRU
PARLIAMENT on Friday passed the Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) Registration Amendment Bill 2001 which requires NGOs and evangelical churches to renew their registration permits annually.
The House also approved a controversial clause that gives security (ISO and ESO) representation on the NGO board. The NGO community has since 2001 opposed the clause.
The Bill gives the NGO board powers to register or deny registry to NGOs opposed to government policy or whose activities are not in ‘public interest.’
James Mwandha (Eastern PWD) and Ephraim Kamuntu’s proposal that NGOs must not be compelled to necessarily follow government policy and leave erring organisations to the sanction of the law was defeated.
John Kigyagi (Mbarara Municipality) and Amama Mbabazi (Kikinzi West) argued that some NGOs may want to promote activities that are detested in the society or against culture.
“An NGO may come from Europe and wants to promote lesbianism. What do you do about it?†Kigyagi asked.
“Suppose Matembe (Miria) and her group want to promote the V thing?†Mbabazi asked, in reference to the controversial play, the Vagina Monologues, causing laughter in the sparsely-attended session.
Mwandah also lost an amendment to reduce the number of the NGO board members from 15 as suggested by the committee of defence and internal affairs, which scrutinised the Bill, to seven.
Amon Muzoora (Rwampara) chairs the committee.
Mwandha had argued that a small board would be more effective with permanent representation at senior level from line ministries.
He said a particular NGO, or those conducting similar activities, may be invited to attend a board meeting, where such activity is under scrutiny.
However, internal affairs minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda (above) opposed the proposal, saying it could be anarchic. “There is a problem having particular NGOs sitting on the NGO board because they have their internal politics.
They could turn the board into a battle ground for their parochial interests,†he said. MPs also passed a provision that will enable NGOs to continue to operate until the NGO board considers their application for licence renewal.
PARLIAMENT on Friday passed the Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) Registration Amendment Bill 2001 which requires NGOs and evangelical churches to renew their registration permits annually.
The House also approved a controversial clause that gives security (ISO and ESO) representation on the NGO board. The NGO community has since 2001 opposed the clause.
The Bill gives the NGO board powers to register or deny registry to NGOs opposed to government policy or whose activities are not in ‘public interest.’
James Mwandha (Eastern PWD) and Ephraim Kamuntu’s proposal that NGOs must not be compelled to necessarily follow government policy and leave erring organisations to the sanction of the law was defeated.
John Kigyagi (Mbarara Municipality) and Amama Mbabazi (Kikinzi West) argued that some NGOs may want to promote activities that are detested in the society or against culture.
“An NGO may come from Europe and wants to promote lesbianism. What do you do about it?†Kigyagi asked.
“Suppose Matembe (Miria) and her group want to promote the V thing?†Mbabazi asked, in reference to the controversial play, the Vagina Monologues, causing laughter in the sparsely-attended session.
Mwandah also lost an amendment to reduce the number of the NGO board members from 15 as suggested by the committee of defence and internal affairs, which scrutinised the Bill, to seven.
Amon Muzoora (Rwampara) chairs the committee.
Mwandha had argued that a small board would be more effective with permanent representation at senior level from line ministries.
He said a particular NGO, or those conducting similar activities, may be invited to attend a board meeting, where such activity is under scrutiny.
However, internal affairs minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda (above) opposed the proposal, saying it could be anarchic. “There is a problem having particular NGOs sitting on the NGO board because they have their internal politics.
They could turn the board into a battle ground for their parochial interests,†he said. MPs also passed a provision that will enable NGOs to continue to operate until the NGO board considers their application for licence renewal.