History and Rationale

PAC is a national civil society governance watchdog and public policy lobby committed to work for the improvement of the quality of governance in the country and provision of quality technical and advisory services; with the promotion and protection of constitutionalism, good governance and democratic development of the country as is overriding goal.

PAC provides opportunities and space for citizen to engage in public issues that affect them and to hold duty bearers accountable, as well as a neutral platform for civil activists, professionals, academia and public managers to engage in dialogue, critical debate, self-reflection and activism over a wide variety of issues that are critical to the citizen welfare and survival of Uganda as a nation.
The Center operates “open houses” or Think Tanks on democracy, good governance, development and public policy, undertakes  action –based  research on these issues; stimulates a citizen-driven Ugandan society and provides tailor-made technical and advisory support services in a range of fields that include among others transformational leadership and democratic governance, project management, Monitoring & Evaluation, organizational development process, public policy analysis and influencing, corporate strategy development, emergency planning and management, information and communication strategy development, fund raising, financial management; social protection and so forth.

PAC is governed by a Board of Trustees headed by a University Professor and comprising of eminent persons and professionals in various fields.  The Board is backed by an Executive Management Team of seasoned managers and professionals with vast experience in NGO work and consultancy in the fields of project planning and management; poverty and policy analysis and advocacy; governance; organizational development; economics; social research; and a host of other related fields.  PAC has a Secretariat located in Soroti town, a regional hub for mid-eastern Uganda.

The Center was started in 2006 primarily as a framework through which professionals could make meaningful contribution in the governance and development of the country; building of a strong civil society voice and potential; and the need to respond to mounting demand to mobilize citizen to consolidate the democratic governance in the country and put the duty bearers to account. PAC finally attained a corporate status in March 2008 when it was registered as a company limited by guarantee in accordance to the laws of the country.

PAC’s underlying premise is that the quality of governance will improve only when citizens are aware and active in demanding greater accountability from government and its agencies.  The Centre’s strength and credibility lie in its independence and commitment and principled engagement with the state and all stakeholders. Our approach hopes in cashing on forging a close working partnership between professionals (who possess brainpower) and communities (who posses civic power) to achieve results.