Rwanda Platform of Civil Society Organisations has revealed that it will seek legal redress if it establishes that there existed unregistered Non Governmental Organisations or others were engaging in illegal activities.

This follows investigations that revealed that some organisations were swindling donor funds under the guise of engaging in development activities.

A report by the Ministry of Local Government indicates that there are many NGOs swindling millions of francs from donors but have no activities to justify the large sums of money they receive.

Speaking to The New Times yesterday, Eugene Rwibasira, the spokesperson of Rwanda Platform of Civil Society Organisations, confirmed that his association is aware of the report.

"We are aware of this report and we are soon meeting with the concerned people (Ministry of Local Government), so we will discuss this matter extensively and establish these sham NGOs.”

"We know the existence of these NGOs, and it is very unfortunate of this report.We looking forward to listing the NGOs so that the law takes its course,” said Rwibasira.

According to the department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation in the ministry, many Civil Society Organisations (CSO’s) are not transparent in the management of their resources and most of them, in their reports, indicate that they spend more than 75% of their budgets on operational costs and yet nothing is achieved or done in the communities.

The report also lists a number of NGOs engaged in subversive political activities, contrary to ethics governing CSO’s, while others are engaged in promoting the Genocide ideology.

It was also revealed that a number of these organisations are not submitting reports to competent authorities as provided for by the law. Others have been transformed into political groups and acting on behalf of terrorist groups.

The report also reveals that some NGOs tell lies in order to get more funds or hide their mismanagement malpractices by presenting government programmes such Mutuelle de Sante and the tree planting project in Bugesera District as their own.

According to article 38-40 of the law No 20/2000 of 26/07/2000, every Non-profit making organization working in Rwanda must submit, by latest April 30 of each year, to the relevant government authorities, a detailed report of its achievements, its balance-sheet and financial situation for the ended exercise, but most NGOs forge the reports.

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