Joyce Namugambe
The prime minister of Buganda Kingdom Owek. Charles Peter has commended the central government for initiating the Equal Opportunities Commission for equal opportunities, that help to give all people chance to take on available opportunities in the country for their own good.
The Equal Opportunites Commission was established by the constitution under equal opportunities commissions act 2007, to make sure that all people in the country including men, women, youth, children and the people living with disabilities move together in enjoying all government programs and any other programs that come in the country without leaving any one behind.
While addressing the committee at Bulange mengo, Katikkiro said that the Kingdom already has a day it gathers and meet people with disabilities in Buganda not to sympathize with them, but to find means of helping them improve on their wellbeing to live a happy and comfortable life.
He adds that the kingdom even has an individual in charge of issues concerning such people and a representative for the marginalized group, an indication that the kingdom does not leave them behind.
However, he has challenged parents with children with disabilities to avoid keeping them inside their homes, but to take them to schools and give them chance to expose their talents through drama, sports, singing and other activities, so that they are given hope that they can very well do what other children can do, since disability is not inability.
In the same meeting, the Buganda Premier Owek. Mayiga has shown concern over the land agencies in the country that mishandle land issues and only side with the rich through false documents and end up evicting people from their land, including the people with disabilities and leave them helpless.
He said that the laws governing land issues are well outlined and there is no need for amendment of any other laws concerning land, but to put things right in the land offices, so that land wrangles in the country are minimized.
The chairperson for the committee for equal opportunities commission Hajati Sophia Nalule Jjuuko said that they are obliged to visit all civil society organizations and cultural institutions in the country, to audit and see how they engage people to gain from government opportunities, and see how they will work together with the commission to see that no one is left behind.
Honorable Nalule has asked the Buganda Kingdom through the Katikkiro to join hands and work with them to see that land conflicts in the country are minimized. And asked the Kingdom to embrace the government programs they are availed to the public, to ensure that people in Uganda fight against poverty among themselves.
The commission priotises cases of the marginalized people to be easily and quickly heard in court to help such people get justice. It has a department that handles cases such Domestic violence, property ownership, land issues, Education, health among others.
