NGOs asked to account for donor money

Mp Maniya County and minister of state for trade, David-Wakikona talking to the Deputy Governor Bank of Uganda,Louis Kasekende during the fundraising function. PHOTO/Prossy Nandudu

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By Prossy Nandudu

Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), community based organizations and other financial institutions have been advised to ensure that they account for funds received from donors to maintain cash inflow that will sustain their projects.

 

The call was made by deputy governor Bank of Uganda, Louis Kasekende during a fundraising drive for a school for the disabled children in Bududu district at Hotel Africana on Friday.

 

A total of sh10m was collected in cash and pledges, with Kasekende offering sh5m towards the construction of the school that is in need of $200m.

 

He said that the success of the construction of the school in question depended upon proper accountability of funds that will be collected for the purpose.

 

“For this project to prosper and possibly attract more funds, it is the responsibility of community leaders and the project managers to see that no money is put to waste, and this can only be achieved through proper accountability,” said Kasekende.

 

According to Rogers Tsesili, the chairman Bududa Disabled People’s Empowerment Scheme, the organization that runs the school, the current structure is temporary and can easily be washed away by rains and mudslides that have rocked the region in the recent years.

 

He said the school that will have a boarding section, will also provide vocational skills to disabled children so that they can fend for themselves in future.

 

“Most of the disabled children in Bududa district have no access to education and when they grow up they go on streets.

 

Mp Maniya County and minister of state for trade, David-Wakikona shares a moment with the Deputy Governor Bank of Uganda,Louis Kasekende and the MP representing people with disabilities Sofia Nalule. PHOTO/Prossy Nandudu

 

This is what we want to change by sending them to school so they can acquires skills and also get decent employment just like the other people,” added Tsesili.

 

Statistics from the Uganda Bureau of Standards indicate that about 3500 (3%) of the children in Bududa district have a disability.

 

The most common disabilities in include sight problem, hearing problem and physical disability.

 

“4 out of every 10 children either have a hearing or physical disability” according to the National Census Coordinator, Francis Mashate, in a speech read for him by the director Agriculture and environment  statistics at UBOS, Seith Mayinza.

 

UBOS further shows that nearly all children with a disability stopped in primary school of which 2 of every 10 children with a disability compared to only 1 without a disability in 2002 were not at school