MPs barred from NUDIPU board
Dec 10, 2008
MPs representing persons with disabilities (PWDs) have been prohibited from sitting on the board of disabled persons.
By Jude Kafuuma
MPs representing persons with disabilities (PWDs) have been prohibited from sitting on the board of disabled persons.
Discussing the management of the National Union of Disabled Persons in Uganda (NUDIPU) at the Pope Paul VI Memorial Hotel in Lubaga on Tuesday, the general assembly resolved that MPs for PWDs are elected using the NUDIPU structures, which makes them accountable to the association.
“Accountability becomes difficult when the MP sits on the NUDIPU board while also representing PWDs in Parliament,†said Michael Ssebuliba, the executive director of NUDIPU.
“We decided so because there may be a conflict of interest.â€
The three-day meeting was attended by over 280 members who form the delegates’ assembly.
The assembly convenes every five years.
A new board was elected to represent the blind, deaf, physically impaired, youth and women.
Eight regional representatives, were elected.
They include Francis Kinubi, the chairperson and representative for the blind, Agnes Aserait, the vice chairperson and representative for eastern, Jessica Ababiku, the general secretary and representative for the north and Seezi Balayo, the treasurer.
The state minister for disability and the elderly, Sulaiman Madada, called upon the new leaders to confront issues that affect PWDs.
“NUDIPU has many challenges including establishing the number of PWDs. Work hard to draw realistic plans to achieve the members’ expectations,†Madada said.
He said: “The Government of Uganda is not the sole provider of facilities for PWDs. We commend the development partners.â€
Madada said projects should be planned strictly to meet the needs of the beneficiaries.
“This involves knowing all members on the laws affecting them,†he said, urging them to be united to guard their values.
The assembly also resolved to include all district unions into the NUDIPU national board.
Francis Kinubi, the out-going chairperson, said the union was strong, contrary to reports that it was on the verge of collapse.
In the last five years, the union has spent sh9.5b on advocacy, equipment, capacity building and sensitisation.
MPs representing persons with disabilities (PWDs) have been prohibited from sitting on the board of disabled persons.
Discussing the management of the National Union of Disabled Persons in Uganda (NUDIPU) at the Pope Paul VI Memorial Hotel in Lubaga on Tuesday, the general assembly resolved that MPs for PWDs are elected using the NUDIPU structures, which makes them accountable to the association.
“Accountability becomes difficult when the MP sits on the NUDIPU board while also representing PWDs in Parliament,†said Michael Ssebuliba, the executive director of NUDIPU.
“We decided so because there may be a conflict of interest.â€
The three-day meeting was attended by over 280 members who form the delegates’ assembly.
The assembly convenes every five years.
A new board was elected to represent the blind, deaf, physically impaired, youth and women.
Eight regional representatives, were elected.
They include Francis Kinubi, the chairperson and representative for the blind, Agnes Aserait, the vice chairperson and representative for eastern, Jessica Ababiku, the general secretary and representative for the north and Seezi Balayo, the treasurer.
The state minister for disability and the elderly, Sulaiman Madada, called upon the new leaders to confront issues that affect PWDs.
“NUDIPU has many challenges including establishing the number of PWDs. Work hard to draw realistic plans to achieve the members’ expectations,†Madada said.
He said: “The Government of Uganda is not the sole provider of facilities for PWDs. We commend the development partners.â€
Madada said projects should be planned strictly to meet the needs of the beneficiaries.
“This involves knowing all members on the laws affecting them,†he said, urging them to be united to guard their values.
The assembly also resolved to include all district unions into the NUDIPU national board.
Francis Kinubi, the out-going chairperson, said the union was strong, contrary to reports that it was on the verge of collapse.
In the last five years, the union has spent sh9.5b on advocacy, equipment, capacity building and sensitisation.