Elect visionary leaders, community organisations urged

By Moses Ntare

The Ntungamo district senior community development officer Turyatunga John has challenged all community based organizations (CBOs) to always elect visionary leaders if they are to remain strong and sustainable for many generations.

Turyatunga noted that some CBOs have collapsed due to weak and selfish leaders they choose to head their organizations.

He made the remarks while addressing the members of CBOs in abid to revive the Ntungamo district NGOs Forum held in the district book store over the weekend.

The Ntungamo district NGO Forum was an umbrella organization that started in 1997 aimed at uniting all community based organizations in the district but it was later collapsed in 2001 after the sickness of then chairman Rutagonya Vincent.

This prompted a cross section of community based organizations (CBOs) and Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Ntungamo District in June 2017 petitioned the office of the Ntungamo District community development officer (DCDO) over the collapse of Ntungamo district NGO forum for over 18 years.

Presenting the petition, the lead petitioner Natamba Edward director of South western institute for Policy Advocacy (SOWIPA) based in Ntungamo Town wants the office of the DCDO to appoint a new board of directors to reactivate the operations of District NGO forum since it was playing a critical role in the development of the District and country at large through organizing and coordinating all CBOs and NGOs for the same cause.

Meanwhile the coordinator of ARISE an NGO Mugizi Dan who is publicity secretary told members that working together NGO/CBOs will foster development to Ntungamo District.

The climax of the meeting was electing of new board members where the director of South Western institute of policy and advocacy (SOWIPA) Natamba Edward as chairperson who will be deputized by Councilor Kebirungi Iddah Twinamatsko and Twesigye Francis as general secretary among others.

 The newly elected chairperson Natamba Edward promised commitment to stir the development if the CBOs in Ntungamo district and asked all community based organizations to register in order to benefit in the government programs.