Okello Stephen/Courtesy photo
The National Bureau of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) has revoked the operating permits and registration certificates of five organizations accusing them of defrauding the public.
Speaking on Tuesday at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala, Stephen Okello, the Executive Director of the Bureau named Agape Sanctuary Ministries International, Christ Alive Glorious Ministries International, Equal Opportunity for Women and Children in Uganda, Global Health Community Empowerment and Comforter of the Afflicted Formation Home.
These NGOs are accused of among others for forgery of NGO Bureau documents, defrauding beneficiaries, funders and the general public among other crimes.
For Dankind Academy, Robert Ssali has been arrested for conning the directors after promising that he was going to help them register the organization.
“He extorted money from them on grounds that he would handle their registration process with the NGO Bureau. Upon numerous demands Ssali created a fake NGO Bureau email account to send them emails informing them that their application had been rejected and the organization blacklisted,” Okello said.
Of the NGOs whose permits have been revoked, Agape Sanctuary Ministries International stands out because of the big amount of money it was accused of obtaining fraudulently from stakeholders. According to Okello, the organization obtained money from building contractors in the forms of bid securities, registration and inspection fees. Those companies, whose bids were successful, were then told to go ahead and start construction after they promised that they would receive payments once funds had been received from their donors.
The contractors used their money some of which was borrowed to construct schools, churches and pastors’ houses across the country. However, when the time came for payment they defaulted on their promises. These companies which Okello didn’t name then dragged the directors of the organization to police demanding that they be paid. It’s at this point that the Bureau got involved in the matter.
Okello said they are also carrying out investigations into other organizations which have also been accused of being involved in fraud. He asked other NGOs to stay away from corrupt practices if they don’t want to meet a similar fate. “I want to call upon all NGOs to be more transparent and accountable in their operations because the actions of these few individuals and organizations that are under investigations are capable of tarnishing the image and reputation of the sector as a whole,” Okello said.
Okello warned the public to be vigilant as they transact with NGOs.
