The Minister of Internal Affairs, Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire has signed the Statutory Instrument 2024 No. 73, officially dissolving the National Bureau for Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO Bureau) as a semi-autonomous entity.
This move re-establishes the NGO bureau as a department within the Ministry of Internal Affairs with key implications such as centralized control, increased scrutiny, and alignment with government priorities. The change aims to streamline and increase efficiency.
The instrument, titled The Non-Governmental Organisations (Amendment) Act, 2024 (Commencement) Instrument, set the commencement date of the act for September 30, 2024.
“n exercise of the powers conferred upon the Minister responsible for internal affairs by section 1 of the Non-Governmental Organisations (Amendment) Act, 2024 this Instrument is made this 4th day of September, 2024.This Instrument may be cited as the Non-Governmental Organisations (Amendment) Act, 2024 (Commencement) Instrument, 2024. The 30th day of September, 2024 is appointed as the date on which the Non-Governmental Organisations (Amendment) Act, 2024 shall come into force,” read in the letter.
The NGO Bureau, which had operated with some level of independence since its creation, will now be fully absorbed into the ministry’s structure and be headed by the secretary and will be reporting to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The Bureau’s mandate is to register, regulate, coordinate, inspect, monitor and oversee all NGO operations in the country.
