CSOs reject proposal for fresh registration
Jun 25, 2015
As Parliament starts consultations into the proposed NGO Bill 2015, civil society organizations (CSOs) have opposed a proposal in the Bill that requires all NGOs to re-register upon the passing of the Bill into law.
By Henry Sekanjako
As Parliament starts consultations into the proposed NGO Bill 2015, civil society organizations (CSOs) have opposed a proposal in the Bill that requires all NGOs to re-register upon the passing of the Bill into law.
Clause 51 of the Bill provides that upon commencement of the Act, all NGOs that existed before the Act may continue to operate but shall be required to apply for fresh registration within a period of six months after the commencement of the Act.
However appearing before the Parliament’s committee on defense and internal affairs which is currently scrutinizing the Bill, the over 500 NGOs opposed the proposal saying the requirement of existing NGOs to re-register is unjustifiable.
“You can imagine getting all the existing NGOs getting re-registered within six months, all organizations that have been operating should be allowed to continue without having them re-registered. If government wants information about us we can provide it but not re-registering us,” said Margaret Ssekagya the executive director Human rights center Uganda.
According to the NGOs, fresh registration of NGOs is aimed at locking out organizations that are perceived critical of government.
“Having NGOs do fresh registration in six months is unnecessary. The government should just verify the status of an organization than carry our fresh registration,” said Job Kiija the coordinator citizen mobilization NGO forum.
They advised that parliament considers thorough consultations with different stakeholders noting that the Bill in its current form violates freedom of speech and expression by the NGO community in Uganda.
“Regulation of CSOs is acceptable under civil law but when regulating, we must make sure that we don’t stifle rights and voices of CSOs. Looking at this Bill in its current form, we find it restrictive in many ways. It seeks to control voices of CS0s,” said Dr.Livingstone Sewanyana the executive director Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI).
The NGOs also expressed reservations about a proposal in the Bill for security agents to monitor the operations of NGOs saying they are not technical officers to oversee works of independent groups.
Clause 20(2) (a) and (d), and clause 21 (2) (a) of the Bill gives powers to Residential District commissioners (RDCs) and District Security Officers (DISOs) to chair and monitor district Non-Government Organizations committees.
“It is not right that RDCs should be the ones to handle this kind of work, it is inconsistent. We believe Chief Administration Officers (CAOs) are in better position to liaise with NGOs and not RDCs,” said James Muhindo, the programs officer Global rights alert.
Muhindo proposed that NGOs should be given an open space for their operations adding that enacting the NGO Bill in its current form, would have a great impact on CSOs in Uganda.
The executive director Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE) Patricia Munabi said if not amended, the Bill will affect the operations of women organizations which are very key in helping the vulnerable women in Uganda.
“Women organizations have made tremendous contribution to the development of Uganda from pre-independence time to date. For Uganda to continue to make gains in promotion and protection of the rights of women, the right to freedom of association is crucial,” said Munabi.
On April 10, the Government gazetted the Non-Government Organizations Bill 2015, to repeal the Non-Governmental Organizations Registration Act Cap 113.
If passed into law by Parliament; The Bill which is currently before parliament’s committee on defense and internal affairs, all NGOs will be required to re-register with the NGO board under tight rules.
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