The National Bureau of Non Government Organisations (NGO Bureau) has suspended the activities Chapter Four, Citizens’ Coalition for Electoral Democracy in Uganda (CCEDU) and 52 others for failure to file annual returns and audited books of accounts.
According to the Executive Director of the National Bureau for Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO Bureau) Okello Stephen they have established that 23 NGOs are operating with expired permits contrary to section 31(1) and 32(1) of the NGO Act 2016.
“The NGO Bureau under the Ministry of Internal Affairs is mandated to register, regulate, monitor, inspect, coordinate and oversee all NGO operations in the country. As a result of its monitoring and investigation functions the NGO Bureau has found that 54 NGOs are non-compliant with the NGO Act 2016,” he said.
He said 15 organisations filed to file annual returns and audited books of accounts to NGO Bureau contrary to section 39 (2) and (3) of NGO Act of 2016 and other non-compliances and 16 are operating with registering with the Bureau.
“I call upon the from the national, district and sub-county level to help in enforcing the decision by ensuring that these affected organisations halt their activities,” he said.
Nicholas Opiyo, the executive director of Chapter Four said the National Bureau for NGOs notified them of the indefinite suspension of the permit of the Organisation for what they term failure to file returns and disclosing our sources of funding. We are working with the authorities to clarify what we believe is a misunderstanding.
“We will be writing to the National Bureau for NGOs reminding them of this and other documents filed with them and other authorities in Jan this year. Audited accounts, source of funding etc. We have always acted above board and repudiate any representation of unlawful conduct on our part,” Opiyo said.
