By Naboth Isaac Niwagaba
Non-Governmental Organizations Operating in Uganda have asked the Government to establish a Policy that Motivates Local Generous Giving.
The appeal was made today during a symposium for journalists, communication experts and Civil Society actors, organized by the Uganda National NGO Forum in Partnership with Philanthropy Support Organization CivSource Africa; at Royal Suites Hotel, Bugolobi in Kampala.
The Uganda NGO Forum brings together over 700 NGOs operating in different areas across the country.
Ms. Jacqueline Asiimwe, the Executive Officer of CivSource Africa said that there was a need to incentivize generous giving as one means of supporting the National economy.
Ms. Asiimwe who doubles as Chairperson of the East African Philanthropy Network (EAPN), noted that for instance a lot of generous acts have not been documented and there’s no clear system to follow up and recognize their impact in the country.
She revealed that they had also been engaging the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Development & Economic Planning, and the Uganda Revenue Authority to find means of encouraging local giving through relevant Policy making.
“For example, we could bench mark from countries like South Africa where they put in place laws that required each company to give at least 10% of their income back to the community in an attempt to address poverty that arose from the apartheid,” Asiimwe said.
Mr. Robert Ninyesiga, Program Coordinator of the Philanthropy for Development at the Uganda NGO Forum said that the Government should make it easy for Generous Givers to support the National budget like it was during the COVID-19 period.
You remember our President would read names of companies and individuals who generously donated money, food, and equipment to manage the pandemic. Where did those people go? It is time we designed strategies that make it easy for them to come back on board Local and continue such good works,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Ninyesiga explained that they had decided to engage the media to document the stories of generous giving, with hope that they can encourage more local generous givers. “Currently, our focus is on local giving” he said.
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