Arrests of street vendors angers Kadaga
Nov 30, 2014
The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga has been irked by the constant arrests of street vendors saying their economic right of survival must be respected.
By Francis Emorut
The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga has been irked by the constant arrests of street vendors saying their economic right of survival must be respected.
“Whenever I hear operations in the city involving arrests of small traders who are just trying to exercise their economic right it bothers me. It’s high time to bring that issue on board so that we can address it,” Kadaga told women lawyers and Judges to a thunderous applause.
Kadaga was speaking during the celebrations to mark 40 years of FIDA-Uganda at Golf Course Hotel in Kampala on Friday.
Recently a breastfeeding woman Madina was arrested by KCCA law enforcement operatives for selling oranges in the streets and taken to city courts.
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The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga (second right) talks to the IGG boss Irene Mulyagonja (left) and Irene Ovongi-Odida (second left) the CEO of FIDA-Uganda and the organisation's board chaiperson Eunice Musiime during celebrations to mark 40 years of FIDA-U at Golf Course Hotel in Kampala. PHOTO/Francis Emorut
Her 2-year-old baby Rayand was killed by KCCA vehicle drawing uproar among the politicians and the public.
The speaker emphasized the need to respect the rights of small traders referring to Article 40 of the Constitution which talks about economic rights.
Article 40 subsection 1(a) states: Parliament shall enact laws-
(a) to provide for the right of persons to work under satisfactory, safe and healthy conditions.
Kadaga said: “There is a tendency to talk about rights to speak and rights to assembly but no one talks about rights to survive.”
She called upon women lawyers to champion the cause of defending the economic rights of citizens.
“We need to correct that situation and make a strategic plan of action,” she said.
The speaker said although the country has made significant strides in the political and social arena the area of economy is still lacking.
“A lot has been achieved but the area of economy, I still find it unsatisfactory,” she stated.
The Kamuli Woman MP also advocated for narrowing of the gap of girls who complete O’Level education saying the last census in 2002 showed worst results posting only 2 ½% of girls of the total population completed senior four.
She underlined the importance of rural woman to access justice and called for their liberation.
“We still have a long way to liberate a rural woman who works like a tractor for 24/7 she has to collect firewood and fetch water. Where does she get time to attend any meeting?” she asked.
Irene Ovonji, the chief executive officer FIDA-U informed the audience that the organization is coming up with the strategic plan to focus on women’s political, economic and social rights.
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Women lawyers dancing during the celebrations to mark 40 years of FIDA-Uganda at Golf Course Hotel in Kampala. PHOTO/ Francis Emorut
The UN Women country representative Hodan Addou lauded government for including women in leadership positions than many other countries.
She however, pointed out that much work remains to be done for women to become a powerful constituency in influencing decisions and shaping public policy.
She called upon government to reform laws that affect women’s equality in marriage and inheritance.