NGOs table pressing issues

KAMPALA-Non-Government Organisations (NGOs)  through their umbrella organization, the NGO Forum, have tabled issues that are affecting their operation in Uganda before government.

The issues were presented by the NGO Forum chairperson, Richard Ssewakiryanga, at a meeting between the NGOs and the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Kampala.

Top among the issues is the regulation of the NGO sector by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Ssewakiryanga noted that their sector is too big to be managed by a single government agency.

They demanded that the NGO Bureau, which oversees the operations of the organizations, be granted an autonomous power, as an independent body which is not answerable to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

They suggested that the bureau be moved from the ministry from internal affairs to the ministry of Gender, Labor and Social Development, as the mother ministry.

Ryan Duly, the Country Manager Humanity and Inclusion, noted that by granting the bureau an independent status, NGOs will be able to access services with ease without following the bureaucratic system in government.

 (Left to right) Stephen Okello, the Interim Executive Director Non-Governmental Organization Bureau interacting with Margaret Sekaggya the Non-Governmental Organization Bureau Board Member, Jacob Siminyu the Spokesperson Ministry of Internal Affairs and Charles Oleny Ojok the Board Chair of Non-Governmental Organization Bureau  at the quarterly dialogue meeting (Photo by Mary Kansiime)

They called for the fast-tracking of the creation of the NGO monitoring committees at the districts and sub-counties, stating that organisations operating at these levels are finding challenges dealing with the leadership at the Local Governments and the Lower Local Governments.

Ssewakiryanga said the committees should also have NGO representatives, voted by the NGOs themselves.

Namuyangu Kacha Jennifer, the Minister of State for Local Government, in response, said she has already instructed the Chief Administrative Officers and the municipal clerks to ensure that the NGO monitoring committees are formed.

Obiga Kania, the Minister of State for Internal Affairs called upon all NGOs operating at the district and sub-county levels to register with the committees that are going to be formed.

He advised them to be more transparent and accountable in their operations to avoid having their names dragged in the mud.

He noted that the issues raised by the NGOs will inform cabinet decisions on the non-state actors.

Other issues include the formation of the NGO fund by government, adoption of partnership principles such as respect and integrity between them and government, addressing the tension between RDCs and NGOs, and review of the validation exercise.

They argued that the Government needs to revise its way of dealing with NGOs. Sarah Bireete, the Director Centre for Constitutional Governance, noted that it was wrong for the government to announce the validation exercise before the media without first informing them.

The quarterly meeting is organised by the Ministry of Internal Affairs with funding from the Irish Embassy. It's organised so as to dialogue and get a common understanding and resolution of issues that create a rift between government and the NGOs.

William Carlos, the Irish Ambassador to Uganda, noted that for sustainable development to be realized, government and the NGOs need to work in harmony, together.