MPs | TO BLOCK | EOC | MERGER

A coalition of Members of Parliament has vowed to block the Equal Opportunities Commission's (EOC) merger with the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) in the impending rationalization of government agencies. 

According to the MPs, the merger that intends to place EOC under UHRC will deter the pursuit of equal opportunities for all Ugandans.

The EOC is mandated to eliminate discrimination and inequalities against any individual or group of persons on various grounds such as tribe, gender, and religion, while the UHRC aims at protecting and promoting fundamental human rights and freedoms in Uganda for sustainable development. 

Dr. Timothy Batuwa, the Jinja West MP who is also the shadow minister for health, commended the EOC's work on Thursday, imploring his colleagues to raise a motion to stop the merger.

Kumi Woman MP, Christine Apolot, said that the EOC has on several occasions helped Parliament pass budgets that are gender compliant.

"You have helped the Budget Committee of Parliament do their work in ensuring equality in different spheres of society," she said. 

The MPs made the remarks during an EOC presentation on matters of national importance regarding equal opportunities in Uganda, at Kingdom Kampala.

The EOC chairperson, Safia Nalule Jjuuko, made the presentation to 10 legislators on the findings of the commission's assessment of the National Development Plan III's compliance with balanced development, equitable distribution of resources, and the elimination of income inequalities.

Commissioner Habib Seruwagi said the EOC should be given the role of absorbing the proposed Salary Commission to deal with disparities in salaries since they are better placed to ensure that salaries are better spent equitably.

Seruwagi noted, “Our role as a commission cannot be performed by any other commission in the same way that we do it.”

He said the EOC is that neutral player that can help address the issues most of the constituents face, which will lessen the burden on MPs who are usually overwhelmed by requests for help from their voters seeking financial support.

Financial inclusion

This came on the heels of concern raised by Mbarara Woman MP, Ayebare Margaret, who noted that most of the MPs were talking about financial inclusion.

“But when you look at the Parish Development Model (PDM), most of the things require money,” she said.

Ayebare noted that as much as they want to support PDM, “we are stuck on how to help out.”

She expressed disappointment that money was stuck in parish accounts, yet people were urgently in need of the funds.

“I represent rural Mbarara, but people were not given tips,” said Ayebare. She also said that peasants have a misconception about the use of PDM money.

She said peasants cannot endure challenges such as school fees, yet they have PDM funds in the house, so they will end up spending it on personal expenses such as medical costs.

Ayebare also noted that seed schools should be facilitated and equipped with teachers instead of creating new seed schools that lack funding and adequate staff.