By Julius Mugaga Tukacungurwa/Umoja Standard.
Kampala, Uganda: Addressing at media at her office, Safia Nalule Juuko the Chairperson of Uganda’s Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) stated that as well as the commission is mandated to ensure that Ugandans enjoy equal rights, there is need for Ugandans to be on forefront as well to report any case denying it.
Important to note.
Uganda’s Equal Opportunities Commission was inaugurated on 8th July, 2010 as a statutory body that is mandated to fighting Discrimination and Inequality in all its form to Individual or Group.
The Commission has five departments that include;
Finance, Administration and Planning.
Compliance Department.
Legal Services and Investigation.
Education, Training, Information and Communication and,
Research, Monitoring and Evaluation.
She stressed that the commission was instituted after citing serious gaps in enjoyment of entitled rights amongst the population.
She mentioned, they are also empowered to do monitoring and evaluation on policies, laws, programs, culture organization of state, statutory bodies and others to ensure they are well functioning.
Ms. Juuko added that they investigate/inquire on any act, conduct of discrimination and marginalization.
“The commission examine laws impairing equal opportunities of persons in employment and facilitates education programs”. Said Ms. Juuko.
Juuko informed that they also monitor Uganda’s compliance in treaties where it is a member to ensure that it well represents population views.
She stated, they have launched Assessment Report 2022/2023 on “Compliance of the National and Programme Specific Budget Framework Papers with Gender and Equity Requirements” under the Theme “Promoting Gender and Equity Responsive Planning and Budgeting for Inclusive Growth Employment and Wealth Creation” and top on their findings was vulnerability.
Ms. Juuko revealed that they found out that some people were vulnerable due to some issues like uncertainties emerging from climatic changes like heavy rains which wash away their crops and cause flooding, drought that dries their crops prematurely and epidemics like Covid 19.
It is against this background that she sought for a policy specifically targeting vulnerable persons in order for them to enjoy rights and services equitably.
“Others were tax evasion, poverty lines brought about by Covid-19, land eviction that has failed activities on land and gaps in adoption of Information Communication and Technology (ICT)”. She stated.
Kakooza Savio Ntensibe, the Head of Investigation at the Commission told media that the 2014 Equal opportunities Commission Regulation give them powers to receive complaints and investigate them.
He stated that Section 5 of the Regulation gives the Commission power to form a tribunal that offers social justice and can make settlements then Section 29 of the Act allows complainants to appeal before high court if one is not satisfied.
He added that the Act as well allows them to conduct mediations and do referrals adding that they give advice to complainants and assess whether they need Pro Bono services and in this they have a team handling it.