In order to effectively implement the NGO regulatory framework, all NGOs in the country will be required to undergo a Verification and Validation exercise. The exercise will commence Aug 9, 2019 and conclude on Sept 7, 2019. This was Wednesday revealed by Minister of Internal Affairs Gen. Jeje Odongo.
The Minister said the exercise will help to determine meaningful relationships, correlations and variations in data with the NGO Bureau and districts to ascertain the status of NGOs operating in the country.
“There is need for a verification and validation of the information on NGOs. We’ve now embarked on an NGO verification and validation exercise which is still ongoing,” he said.
Odongo said the exercise will follow up on non-compliant NGOs which did not honor the April 2019 communication that was sent to all districts requesting for a copy of the Community Based Organizations (CBO) register and NGO inventory.
He said that out of 128, 71 districts that submitted their NGO verification data, 57 did not comply.
“We are making a follow up on the NGO verification non-compliant districts and also engaging the Ministry of Local Government. A database for CBOs was developed and the process of updating is on-going,” he said.
He said by 31st July 2019, the National NGO register indicated that there were 14,207 registered NGOs, out of which only 3,810 had valid permits. 10,397 had expired permits. He cautioned NGOs without proper identification documents to comply with the law.
The Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) Act 2016 established the National Bureau for NGOs (NGO Bureau) under the Ministry of Internal Affairs to replace the National NGO Board. The Bureau is mandated to register, regulate, monitor, inspect, coordinate and oversee NGO operations in the country.
