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Kadaga blames government for delaying electoral reforms
The Speaker of Parliament, Ms Rebecca Kadaga (centre), receives gifts from elderly women in Kabarole District on Saturday. She said electoral reforms need to be pushed so that elderly persons can be included among special interest groups to be represented in Parliament. PHOTO BY ALEX ASHABA
Kabarole- Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga has castigated the Minister of Justice and the Attorney General for defying her directive to table electoral reforms ahead of 2021 General Election.
According to Ms Kadaga, she had given the Justice Minister and Attorney General up to April this year to table the electoral reforms in Parliament for amendment but they have failed to comply.
“Since the start of first session of 10th Parliament, I have been battling with Minister of Justice and Attorney General to table electoral reforms in Parliament to be amended in time to (among others) consider elderly people be represented in Parliament and I had given them ultimatum up to April this year but they have failed to comply. I will continue putting them on pressure until they deliver,” Ms Kadaga said while addressing elderly people in Kabarole District on Saturday.
The meeting of elderly people was organised by Kabarole District Woman MP Sylvia Rwabwogo.
At the same event, the elderly persons petitioned government to consider them among the special interest groups such as youth, workers and people with disabilities, who are represented in Parliament.
Ms Kadaga said the issues affecting the elderly in Uganda should be handled by the State minister for the Elderly persons but the post is still vacant. She promised to remind President Museveni to consider filling the post.
In June 2016, the Parliamentary vetting committee, which the Speaker chairs, refused to approve appointment of Ms Adrian Tibaleka whom the President had named as State minister for Elderly and People with Disabilities.
On June 17, 2016, Daily Monitor reported that MPs rejected Ms Tibaleka on account that her appointment offends Article 113 (1) of the Constitution, which stipulates that Cabinet ministers shall be appointed by the President from among MPs or persons qualified to be elected Members of Parliament.
At the same event, Ms Kadaga observed the need for government through the Ministry of Health to consider putting up special wards for elderly people in all health facilities and also ensure medical workers are trained to handle such patients.
“For the last 15 years, we have been asking government to put up general medical insurance but all in vain and I have instructed the Parliamentary Committee on Health to draft the Bill to be represented in Parliament,” Ms Kadaga said.
Earlier, the Kabarole District chairman for elderly persons, Mr Amos Manyiraho, had petitioned the Speaker for government to consider providing adequate drugs for elderly people in all health facilities.
He said in most cases, there is shortage of drugs for elderly persons in these facilities yet the drugs are expensive to buy in private medical facilities.
Older persons also asked the Speaker to consider rolling out the Social Assistance Grants for Empowerment (SAGE) programme countrywide and put the minimum age of beneficiaries at 60 years.
MP Rwabwogo urged government to address concerns of the elderly.
The district chairman, Mr Richard Rwabuhinga, called for protection of the elderly.
Ms Kadaga commissioned a Sacco for the elderly in Kabarole and their association where she contributed Shs5m.
Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs Kahinda Otafiire refused to comment on Ms Kadaga’s remarks about his failure to present electoral reforms.
The Attorney General, Mr William Byaruhanga, and his deputy Mwesigwa Rukutana did not answer our repeated phone calls.
