Albinos want seat in Parliament

Jun 08, 2009

Albinos have demanded a seat in Parliament, saying they need a stronger voice to advocate their rights.

By Eddie Ssejjoba

Albinos have demanded a seat in Parliament, saying they need a stronger voice to advocate their rights.

The albinos said they were discriminated against by people with disabilities, where they ought to belong.

Addressing participants on Friday at a two-day workshop for albinos at Yovan Hotel in Kampala, the chairperson of the Uganda Albinos Association, Jude Ssekyanzi, said they were politically, socially and economically discriminated against.

He said he had received complaints from over 400 albinos, saying their human rights were violated.

“In Tanzania, the rights of albinos have been protected. They are even represented in parliament,” Ssekyanzi said.

He said although albinos were sought by witchdoctors for sacrifice, no leader had come up to give them protection.

Ssekyanzi appealed to the Police to investigate traditional healers who seek their body parts, saying it was a violation of their rights.

“We want to meet President Yoweri Museveni and the Speaker of Parliament to present our grievances. We want our rights to be protected,” he said.

The commissioner for the elderly and people with disabilities Herbert Baryayebwa, said although being an albino was a disability, albinos were not recognised.

He supported their initiative to form groups through which they would access government resources.

“There are some groups we have not recognised. We will help you access your benefits,” Baryayebwa said.

The participants learnt entrepreneurship skills to enable them run small businesses. They were also advised on how to guard against contracting HIV/AIDS and protect their skins against infection.

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