a) Role of Ngo board in
Uganda
b) and requirements for
the registration of Ngo in Uganda.
A
non-governmental organization (NGO) is any non-profit, voluntary citizens'
group which is organized on a local, national or international level.
Task-oriented and driven by people with a common interest, NGOs perform a
variety of service and humanitarian functions, bring citizen concerns to
Governments, advocate and monitor policies and encourage political participation
through provision of information. Some are organized around specific issues,
such as human rights, environment or health. They provide analysis and
expertise, serve as early warning mechanisms and help monitor and implement
international agreements. Their relationship with offices and agencies of the
United Nations system differs depending on their goals, their venue and the
mandate of a particular institution.
The board of directors is
crucial to an NGO and is responsible for many specific tasks. The board’s main
task is to govern and oversee the operations of the organization through acting
as fiduciaries. In other words, the board is legally ,financially, and morally
responsible for the organization.1 Each individual member of a board is
significant and holds many responsibilities that help contribute to his or her
work on the board as a whole[1].
According article 4(1-6) calls
for establishment of Ngo as it provides
that,
There shall be a board to be known as the National
Board for Nongovernmental
Organisations.
The board shall consist of the following –
Three members from the public one of whom shall be a female; One member from each of the ministries
responsible for the following,, Internal affairs;Justice and constitutional
affairs;Local governments;Health; Agriculture, animal industry and fisheries;
Gender and social development; Education and sports , One member from the
office of the Prime minister,One member from the Internal Security
Organisation; and One member from the External Security Organisation[2].
However according to chapter 113(7)(1)
(a) up to (f) 1989 constitution amendment
put forward the following roles of the Ngo board.
Shall be to.
Consider applications for registration and incorporation by organizations;
This phrase that the Ngo board
shall always put into consideration to that
all Ngos in Uganda are
registered and at the same time
having the exact requirements for their
survival.
Keep a register of registered organizations;
The Ngo board shall ensure
that all records concerning registered
organizations are kept in a well
organized manner , protecting them from fraud and others problems that may affect records.
Guide and monitor organizations in carrying out their services at all
levels of Government .
The Ngo board shall act as a
guiding father to all registered and
unregistered organizations, that is to say shall give guide lines on how to control, monitor
resources through its continuous
supervision of the organizations
in Uganda.
Develop policy guidelines for
community based organizations
Still, the Ngo board, concerning
the mandate it has, shall portray guidelines
for community based organizations (CBO) that’s those organizations
that are fully based on community perspective.
Make recommendations to the relevant authorities in regard to employment
of non citizens by an organisation, or whether an organisation may be exempted
from taxes and duties or be accorded any other privileges or immunities;
Advise the Minister on the general policy relating to the operations of
organizations[3]. The
Ngo board help to advise the minister of internal affairs on matters
concerning organization that have been registered with the law. It helps to give policy guidelines and decisions on how to
control, monitor, supervision of the organization.
Having looked at the roles that the Ngo board play, let us also look at the
crutial things that one should put into consideration when
registering an Ngo.
A letter of
recommendation.
You need a letter of recommendation written by Local Council Chairman I
(LC I). This must recommend the organization. On the same letter, the Chairman
LC II, LC III and Resident District Commissioner (RDC) should each endorse
their signatures and stamp. The organization can use the LC I from the area
where it has its Headquarters. Getting this recommendation is usually easy and
straight forward. In some cases (not always) you may need to pay a very modest
administrative fee to LC I and LC II.
A written recommendation of two sureties or
recommenders.
The Organization should have written recommendation of two sureties or
recommenders who should each write separately recommending the organization.
Technical areas of activities need recommendation from the concerned line
Ministry/Department. The word surety here is used, not in the legal sense or guarantor but
more like a recommender. Such a person should be knowledgeable in the areas of
operations or activities and be of integrity.
Work plan
The Organization should have a work plan or its activities to be carried
out for the first year of the term of operation. The activities or work plan
for the one year should have budget that is
to say how much is to be spent on each of those activities (this is
tentative budget). The budget should reflect the work plan.
Two copies of constitution
The organization should have two copies of the
constitution or by By-Laws or Rules and should have a provision in it
specifying the purposes for which the funds are to be utilized.
Organizational chat.
The NGO should have an Organizational
Chart/Administrative chart showing its leadership.
Registration fee.
Every indigenous NGO is to pay 15,000/=
registration fee and not more than that.
Filling forms.
Every organization is to fill Form A which should be duly completed and
signed by at least two promoters. The names of the promoters should be printed
in front of their signatures on the form. Promoters are the owners of the
organization.
Papers /application
The Organization should bring all its papers/application on a Spring
Manila File Cover.
Writing a letter
The organization should write a letter to the Secretary NGO Board
specifying the area of their operation. This is what will be printed on the
permit once granted. This is a contentious issue as if you have to carry out activities in
areas other than that stated on your permit, you are expected to get permission from the NGO
Board. It may be advisable to use words such as nationwide or state a broad
range of places you hope to work in.
The Registrar General’s Office
Every organization should reserve its name with the Registrar General’s
Office at the Ministry of Justice. This is done to make sure that no other
organization will use your names or the name of the organization is free to be
used by you. In case of subsequent change of names, a reservation must be done
again. This
usually takes less than a month, but the applicant may need to keep a close
follow up
with a contact person at the Registrar of Companies.
If the organization has a
Foreigner working with it or the Foreigner is coming to join them, the
organization should read section 13 of Non-Governmental Act 2006 (amended) and
Regulations.
A Foreigner coming to assist the organization by
staying with it should bring his or her:- Photocopies of his/her qualification papers, Present
Immigration Status in the Country , A letter from his/her home Government that
the subject has no criminal record. That is to say. He or she is of good
conduct, A letter appointing the subject to the position he/she is going to
occupy.
All organizations seeking Entry
Permits/Visas for foreigners on behalf of the NGO should get
endorsement/recommendations from the NGO Board. This is to make sure that the
Board/Secretariat is aware of such immigrants working with NGOs and the information
of such immigrants is available on the NGOs File.
Certificate of incorporation
The NGO Board sits once every month. Any registering NGO should expect
its Certificate of Incorporation after a month of lodging its papers. This is not always
the case and there is often an applications back log and it’s not a guarantee that an
application for registration will be completed in a month. All Lawyers,
consultants are advised to come with at least one of the officials of the
organization being represented. The Secretariat will not welcome documents
without their officials. Collection of Permits/Incorporation Certificates is by
any official of the organization. Any other parties sent for that purpose
should have authority letters from the organization.
When an organization closes down (even temporarily)
the NGO Board should be informed.[4]
All in all, the Ngo board in Uganda has a mandate
to make sure that all organizations are registered in an organized way with
efficiency, prudency and
vigilance.
