By Moses Walimbwa
Ugandan non-governmental organisations have been urged to build local income streams to sustain their work as uncertainty over foreign donor funding puts pressure on their operations.
Dr Stephen Okello, Secretary of the National Bureau for NGOs, urged organisations to strengthen membership contributions and explore income-generating ventures instead of relying heavily on external grants.
He was speaking at the NGO Risk, Compliance and Resilience Conference at Kabira Country Club in Kampala on October 23.
Okello linked financial resilience to stronger governance, saying NGOs needed effective boards and members willing to contribute to their organisations’ operations.
The call prompted questions about the legal framework for social enterprise ventures whose proceeds help finance an organisation’s activities.
Yona Wanjala, Executive Director of the Civic Advisory Hub, welcomed the approach but called for clearer legal guidance to help NGOs understand their obligations before pursuing such ventures.
His concern highlighted a practical challenge: organisations seeking alternatives to grants must determine how those activities fit within their operational rules.
Funding was discussed alongside broader compliance pressures, including financial accountability, employment obligations, and governing boards’ responsibilities.
Martha Oundo, Assistant Commissioner for Inspection and Compliance at the NGO Bureau, said inspections also help organisations identify and correct weaknesses.
“Where concerns are minor, we give a timeline or roadmap to address those gaps,” she said.
The conference brought together NGO leaders, regulators, and advisers to discuss how organisations can manage risk, fulfil their obligations, and maintain community services as operating conditions change.
For NGOs exploring new income sources, the immediate task is to develop viable funding models alongside the governance and accountability systems needed to sustain them.