NGO Accountability in Uganda: Analyzing the Reasons, Challenges and Remedial Postulates

Abstract

NGOs have continued to become focal points as key contributors to social-economic transformation of communities in areas where they operate. This belief is seen to have led to boundless ‘trust' vested in them by stakeholders. Despite this trust, there are sustained grumbles on the way NGOs use donor-given resources. Although this has been partly blamed on donor's reluctance in establishing authenticity of some organizations before funds are advanced and also less effort made to find out the way such resources are used, it has also been seen to be a result of lack of strictness by those implementing national regulations, which gives room for freedom in formation and operation of NGOs, the consequence being deviation from set goals. This situation has led to continued questioning by stakeholders – beneficiaries (on whose cause resources are given and obtained), donors who give resources and other stakeholders - of the nature of operation of NGOs and why they can'thold-on to their mandate. The first part of this paper gives the meaning of accountability and the contextual framework in which NGOs operate-set their goals and objectives vis a vis the key forces/demands by different stakeholders. It further examines the reasons for continued call for accountability/why accountability is vital, and the challenges which explicate on‘why' accountability has not succeeded. It is crowned with remedial postulates/ strategies whose adoption, it is hoped will help counter these challenges and enhance NGO performance.