NGOs warned against fighting, betraying each another

Non-Governmental organizations (NGOs) have been advised to combine efforts and work together to transform the lives of people they serve other than bad mouthing and fighting each other especially because of donor funds.

Achaloi Jennifer, project coordinator, ActionAid Uganda said many NGOs do not look eye to eye because of the infightings for donor funds,  bad mouthing one another, un healthy competition and stealing each other's concepts, which she said will not take them far if they are to cause positive change in communities they work with.

 "There are scenarios where you find about five NGOs in one region handling say issues of women, but none of them is in good terms with each other. Some steal each other's concepts or bad mouth each other to the donors so that can get more funding," she said

"This kind of infighting amongst NGOs is not healthy, and will not get us far in realizing the goals for which the organizations are built. Let us support and work with each other to improve the lives of the people we work with other than fighting each other," she added.

She said this during a meeting on gender inequality, taxation and wealth distribution held at Hotel Africana on Wednesday.

The meeting organized by ActionAid brought together women and men from different organizations especially those dealing with women issues.

The purpose of the meeting was to point out some of the issues women in the country are still grappling with among them, domestic violence, limited land access by women, high levels of maternal and child deaths, the question of the Karamoja women and girls on the streets of Kampala on who brings them and ill equipped health care system among others.

The honorary secretary Uganda Law Society, Pheona Wall said for women issues to be addressed, it is very important to engage women in power and those in places of influence especially those in the political space to front women issues for solutions.

She also called upon women in women league organizations to front women issues in their organizations if they are to create positive impact in the lives of Ugandan women.

Gloria Nabaye, project officer, Vision Care told women leaders in different organizations to leave air conditioned board rooms; go at the grassroots and work with other women that are doing something positive to change their communities.

"There are many women engaged in doing arts and crafts, others in agriculture, trade, as fellow women, can we link them to the ready market for their products so that they are able to generate an income and improve their livelihoods. By so doing, we shall be adding value to fellow women other than always waiting for government to act," she said.