Churches to register as NGOs

ALL places of worship, apart from the Catholic church, Church of Uganda and the mosques, must register as non-governmental organisations (NGOs).<br>“Many churches have come up and we do not know all their intentions.

By Ebenezer T. Bifubyeka

ALL places of worship, apart from the Catholic church, Church of Uganda and the mosques, must register as non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
“Many churches have come up and we do not know all their intentions.

We want to work with them to strengthen the civil society in order to benefit the marginalised groups,” the Minister for General Duties, Adolf Mwesige, said.

He was opening a two-day consultative workshop on the proposed national NGO policy framework at the Lake View Resort Hotel in Mbarara district recently.
Mwesige said there was no NGO policy framework to guide the development of the sector. This, he said, had encouraged some charities to con the community.

“Some NGOs infringe on the people’s rights. But the Government will not sit back and watch this happening.”
He urged the charities to comply with registration requirements and avoid activities which they had not registered for.

The workshop, organised by the Office of the Prime Minister attracted the national, civil society steering committee and representatives from various NGOs.