CSOs commit to deepen trust, accountability at CSO Convention.

From 30^th September to 1^st October 2025, the National CSO Convention 2025, at Mestil Hotel, Kampala convened government officials, Civil Society players, development partners, & the private sector, to discuss the future of civil society in Uganda.

Both government and civil society leaders agreed that the future of Uganda’s NGO sector depends on building trust, strengthening accountability, and safeguarding institutional independence, while navigating Uganda’s evolving legal, financial, and political landscape.

The convention also served as a platform to reflect on proposed amendments to NGO legislation and ongoing discussions about sustainable funding models for the sector.

Executive Director of the National Planning Authority (NPA), Joseph Muvawala, while delivering a keynote address at the National CSO Convention 2025, emphasized the need for Civil Society Organisations to improve their capacity in data- and evidence-based advocacy to generate credible policy alternatives while driving exclellence.

“We must strive to improve, even if it means working three times harder in everything we do. If you are a driver, drive with excellence. If you are part of an NGO or a CSO, ensure that the results you deliver are meaningful and relevant” he said

Executive Director of the National Planning Authority (NPA), Joseph Muvawala,

Dr. Stephen Okello, Commissioner of the NGO Bureau under the Ministry of Internal Affairs, urged CSOs to remain committed to advancing Uganda’s development agenda, cautioning CSOs about the delicate balance between civic engagement and partisan politics.

He acknowledged that Uganda’s NGO sector still faces significant challenges that require urgent attention including registration and regulatory processes that  remain slow and inefficient, and many NGOs are established without a clear or purposeful mission.

“I appeal to the sector to carefully manage the thin line between participating in political processes and engaging in partisan politics. The strength and survival of civil society depend on how well we manage the intersection of legal frameworks, financial sustainability, and political engagement. None of these dimensions can stand alone; they collectively form the foundation of a vibrant and resilient sector,” he said.

The theme for the convention was: “The Future of Civil Society in Uganda: The Law. The Money. The Politics.”

Dr. Moses Isooba, Executive Director of the Uganda National NGO Forum, emphasized the need for CSOs to position themselves strategically to safeguard their identity as people-centered institutions. He warned that undermining the sector at this critical time would be counterproductive.

“The national population dynamics are providing us with the connectivity we need to work together. We are at a point where a strong civil society is not optional. Weakening it now would be nothing short of a losing battle,” he said