"Government will not Hesitate to crack the Whip": Gen Aronda Warns NGOs

13 August 2014 -

Written by Laspnet

http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/658508-aronda-warns-dishonest-ngos.html

Dishonest in the NGO sector is a key concern of observers and some vigilant beneficiaries out there. The common accusations include diversion of funds, bias allocation of resources, employment of unqualified staff and inconsistency or overlapping in areas of operations that leads to floppy performance. This was revealed by Gen. Aronda Nyakairima, The Minister for Internal Affairs in a speech read by the chairperson of NGO board, Gabriel Kangwagye.

The minister observed that there are allegations of some NGOs acting unprofessionally and failing to fulfill their missions.

“Some have been accused only of being partially committed and failing to demonstrate transparency especially in providing goods and services that are not commensurate to their declared objectives,” he said.

Government is currently drafting amendments on NGO Act to tame the errant ones. Ambassador Kangwagye was speaking during the fourth Quality assurance mechanism (Quam) certificate award ceremony at Africana Hotel in Kampala.

Quam is intended to enhance credibility and accountability among the civil society organizations. Aronda noted that government’s expectation is to encourage the emergency of a high quality NGO sector that is trusted and expected to provide wide variety and scope services and interventions as may be needed by the expectant beneficiary’s through transparent, effective and efficient management of its processes.

He urged the management of Quam to establish policing system that will work alongside collaboration with state machinery to prevent and act upon errant NGOs in a timely manner. Quam awarded 26 NGOs certificates of different categories that included standard, provisional and advanced.

Kaborole Research Center and Care International Uganda scooped the advanced category while FIDA-Uganda and Batwa Development Programme and SEATINI received standard and others.

Irene Ovonji-Odida the executive director of FIDA-Uganda said the award is recognition of their quality service they offer to the communities.

“We are genuine in our work when we are out there. We believe in internal quality and accountability and are committed in doing job in promoting justice in the country,” Ovonji said.The head of Democratic Facility Governace, Lars Christensen said Uganda was unique in the world to develop quality assurance mechanism to check the services of NGO sector.