Non-functioning of govt systems to blame for social injustices - NPA

Sep 22, 2015

The non-functioning of Government institutions are to blame for the high rate of social injustices and exclusion in the country, the National Planning Authority, boss, Dr. Joseph Muvawala has revealed

By Jeff Andrew Lule               

The non-functioning of Government institutions are to blame for the high rate of social injustices and exclusion in the country, the National Planning Authority, boss, Dr. Joseph Muvawala has revealed
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Muvawala noted that despite the limited resources to run various government programmes for better service delivery to the community, many institutions have not played their required roles for better implementation.

He made the remarks while speaking at 2nd National Conference on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights at Makerere University Tuesday.

It was held under theme; "Tackling Social Exclusion in Access to Scio-Economic Goods and Services for Sustainable Development".

Muvawala noted that although the social and economic rights need financial capacity to be sustained, nothing can be achieved without considering the quality of institutions.

"We can talk rights and budgets but without addressing the issue of the quality of institutions, it will be a waste of time because the budget is not elastic," he noted.

He said there are a lot of inefficiencies in the system including governance issues.

"How can you talk inclusion when you lose three days in a school in a week because of absenteeism? How can we talk inclusion when we lose these colossal sums of resources? How can we talk when our institutions cannot plan well and budget well?" he asked.

He also noted that despite the country's high economic growth at about 7%, there is still a widening disparity in income.

Muvawala said if the country wants to include, then there is need to implement better.  He said the system at times responds slower to resources brought in.

"So, it is not about money but how it can is utilized,  it is not about saying UPE but is it quality education?," he said.

In his keynote address, Justice Joham van der Westhuizen of the South African Constitutional Court, said courts should not shy away from making decisions because of political consequences.

"Courts must have the validity to test the law but avoid. Constitution of laws cannot solve the problems but sets the idea and provides a starting point to these issues," he said.

However, Westhuizen said nothing can be achieved without sound government systems.

Irene Ovongi-Odida, the executive director FIDA, said social injustices are alarming especially among women, saying there is need to action. "We have a big problem in the country around social and economic justice. We see this in the increasing number of our clients and nature of cases," she noted.

She said there is a weakness in the institutions of government in dealing with these issues in which leaves many poor people vulnerable.

Prof. Joe Oloka-Onyango from Makerere University school of law, attributed the problem to the constitution assembly lawyers, who omitted the economic, social and cultural rights. 

Justice Prof. Lilian Tebatemwa-Ekirikubinza, of Court of Appeal, said it was timely to push for these rights in place.

"Several ratifications have been made but not fully incorporated in the domestic laws. This is key to push for social justice to protect our people," she said in a speech read by Prof. D.J Bakibinga.

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