Matembe, MPs clash over NGO Bill

Jun 29, 2015

The former minister of ethics and integrity, Miriam Matembe, has clashed with Members of Parliament over their capacity to make a good law out of the NGO Bill 2015.

By Francis Emorut                                                                         

The former minister of ethics and integrity, Miriam Matembe, has clashed with Members of Parliament over their capacity to make a good law out of the NGO Bill 2015.

"Do you have the powers to make a good law after we have given you our concerns/views?" Matembe asked.


Margaret Sekaggya, the executive director of Human Rights Centre Uganda addressing participants during the dialogue on NGO Bill 2015


The outspoken former minister pointed out that there is a tendency of MPs changing their positions after getting brown envelopes in State House and holding NRMs causing meetings.

"What powers do you have? You blind your eyes. A lot of consultations were done on Public Order Management Bill (now Public Order Management Act) but at the end of it you passed it the way it was," Matembe charged.

The infuriated Matembe was speaking during the dialogue on NGO Bill 2015 in Kampala.

The dialogue which attracted lawmakers, lawyers and members of civil society was organized by Human Rights Network Uganda and Uganda National NGO Forum.

"How sure are we you will take our views and not to the NRM caucus?" she asked.


MP Frederick Mbagadhi, addressing participants during the dialogue on NGO Bill 2015 at Hotel Africana in Kampala.


The contentious issues in the NGO Bill are clauses which include the chairing of district NGO monitoring committee by the Resident District Commissioner (clause 20 (2)), operation of organisations in Uganda only upon due registration with NGO board (clause 31 (1)) grounds of revocation of a permit (clause 33 (1)), clause 37 (3) which provides for investigation by an officer of the secretariat and clause 44 which talks of dissolution of organization as well as clause 51 which requires organisations to re-register afresh after the law has been passed. 

Matembe referred to these clauses as demonic meant to silence, shut and prevent NGOs from doing good work to the communities.

The former minister told MPs that the public was losing trust in them.

She cited months of consultations by civil society actors and opposition politicians on electoral reforms which were presented to the Parliamentary committee on legal affairs and to the Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga but nothing meaningful has come out.

"It's only a silly and useless law which has come out (the changing of Electoral Commission name to Independent Electoral Commission which has been table before Parliament)." She said.

The opposition had wanted the Badru Kiggundu (EC boss) commission to be disbanded and the name changed.

Matembe accused legislators of abuse of an institution (Parliament) and waste of tax payers' money for passing laws which can't pass the taste of time.

"Are you going to stop making laws to fight NGOs? Can you redeem yourselves so as for the public to gain confidence in you?" she asked.

"We are going to pray that God defeats demonic forces."

Responding to Matembe's outburst, the chairperson of defence and internal affairs Parliamentary committee, Benni Namugwanywa told the audience that she was offended by the former's remarks.

 


The executive director of Uganda Land Alliance, Edmond Owor addressing participants during the breakfast meeting on NGO Bill 2015 at Hotel Africana in Kampala


"I am a staunch Catholic. I don't accept brown envelopes," Namugwanywa said.

"We go to State House to deliberate issues. You are either defeated or win," she stated.

Namugwanywa who is also Mubende Woman MP assured participants that her committee would handle issues raised by civil society.

The chairperson was supported by Kagoma MP Frederick Mbagadhi who wondered why Matembe was not blaming the government when she was still serving it.

"Government was good when she was in Cabinet and has now become bad when she is out," Mbagadhi said.

Kigulu South MP Milton Muwuma who was also angered by Matembe’s remarks told the audience that the MPs were not comedians who keep changing positions on agreed matters.


Mubende Woman MP, Benni Namugwanywa (C) ,city advocate, Nicholas Opio (L) and Margaret Sekaggya (R)addressing participants during the dialogue on NGO Bill 2015 at Hotel Africana in Kampala.

"Threat us in a right way and not going personal. We shall serve the country," Muwuma said.

However, the executive director of Uganda Land Alliance, Edmond Owor defended the former minister saying she was misunderstood.

"You (MPs) have good intensions but we have also seen you change arguments/positions and that is our fear," Owor said.

Margaret Sekaggya, the executive director of Human Rights Centre Uganda implored lawmakers to make laws for posterity.

She pointed out that the RDC should not chair the district NGO monitoring committee since he was a President's representative.

City advocate, Nicolas Opio appealed to MPs not to pass clauses which are detrimental to the operations of civil society organisations as it infringes on the rights of freedom of association.

He also noted that the involvement of district internal security officer (DISO) in the district NGO monitoring committee was uncalled for since NGOs were development partners and not a security threat.

Patrick Tumwiine an official from HURINET wondered why NGO board was under the ministry of internal affairs and yet in countries like Kenya and South Africa it's under different ministries.

Richard Sewakiryanga the NGO Forum head called upon MP to be sober when deliberating on NGO Bill 2015 and come up with a good law that will not curtail the activities of civil society organisations. 

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