Elderly call for representative in Parliament
Oct 10, 2016
This year's celebrations were organized under the theme, 'Act Now: Take a Stand Against Discrimination of Older Persons'
Elderly persons in Uganda have called on government to secure a seat for them in Parliament to enable them benefit from government programs.
Speaking during the World International Older Persons Day last week in Pader district, the chairperson of the National Council of Elderly Persons Joram Tibasiimwa said their representative will make sure that there is availability of drugs they usually need among others.
The day was designated by the United Nations Assembly under resolution 45/106 with the first one being celebrated in on October 1, 1991. In Uganda, the first day of this kind was celebrated in 1999.
This year's celebrations were organized under the theme, 'Act Now: Take a Stand Against Discrimination of Older Persons'.
"We acknowledge that there are a number of elderly persons in Parliament, however they do not represent us, and they owe allegiance to their political parties, special interest groups or themselves" Tibasiimwa said.
He added that it is not too late to have a representative in the 10th Parliament adding that having no representative is an abuse to their rights.
He further said 7% of the elderly persons are eligible for pension and retirement benefits and most of them die before getting their money,
Tibasiimwa pointed out security and health as the two major challenges always facing the elderly.
He said though the government strives to improve on health standards in the country, most elderly persons are still travelling long distances to get to health centers and most of them are not given attention in hospitals.
Chairperson of the National Council of Elderly Persons Joram Tibasiimwa delivers his speech during the celebrations. Photo by Godiver Asege
86-year-old Ronald Ocheng a resident of Atika in Pader district said he has many times failed to get loans from banks.
"I suspect they find me as a risk borrower, they think I'm too week to work and pay back their money," he said.
According to the minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, the main purpose of this celebration is to recognize the contributions made by older persons towards national development.
"We also celebrate this day to create awareness among people on the rights and needs of the older persons" she said.
She added that there are 1,280,000 elderly persons in Uganda according to the 2014 national census adding that this is expected to increase as the quality of living in the country rises.