UNICEF-Invest in Uganda's Children
Nov 22, 2014
Under the theme Invest in Uganda’s Children; Realise Vision 2040, child rights agencies are recognising some of the leading child rights advocates in the country.
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Defending rights of the voiceless
At the mention of his name, any one in the civil society circles will have a story to narrate. He has become a household name and many look up to him. Dr. Livingstone Sewanyana, is the executive director of the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative and the current board chairperson of the Uganda Child Rights NGO Network (UCRNN)
Dr. Margaret Mungherera gives hope to abused children
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Dr. Margaret Mungherera’s role in treating children has enabled many of them lead better lives.
Under the tagline: Invest in Uganda’s children; Realise Vision 2040, child rights agencies are recognising some of the leading child rights advocates in the country. Today, Stephen Ssenkaaba brings you the contributions of Dr. Margaret Mungherera
Kaboggoza, the man behind child-friendly laws in Uganda
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As he edges towards retirement in just two years, James Kaboggoza, the assistant commissioner for children affairs at the gender ministry, can only look back and marvel at how far the journey of mainstreaming children’s rights has come in the over three decades he has served in the sector.
Deogratias Yiga: Accused of ‘spoiling’ Uganda’s children
true Deogratias Yiga the former executive director of ANPPCAN now a private consultant Photos by Abou Kwesiga
He is the development manager at Development Links Consult. If you met him in his office at Emerald Hotel in Kampala you would easily dismiss his credibility in Uganda’s social and political arena. The assumption that he is just another of the many pretentious rich men with egoinduced behaviour would be easy to make because he looks healthy, and has a “potbelly”.
Muhumuza lit a candle for the suffering children
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Robby Muhumuza’s stories about the suffering of children brought the world on board
Robby Muhumuza’s passion for story telling started by the fireside; in his rural village home of Kashenyi, in Bushenyi district. Here, little Muhumuza would sit on the ground, listening to his mother tell one folk tale after another as she cooked
the family meal. His turn to tell stories came nearly 50 years later; this time under a different kind of fire. As Uganda joins the rest of the world to celebrate the United Nations Child Rights Convention, people like Muhumuza epitomise the tireless efforts this country has invested in child rights advocacy.
Janat Mukwaya traversed Africa for rights of children
trueMukwaya was instrumental in highlighting the plight of children
A prophet, they say, is hardly recognised at home. As such, Hajat Janat Mukwaya is known at home as one of those pioneer NRM woman politicians. However, many do not know that her role in creating a good policy environment for children goes beyond the Ugandan borders.
This woman, who fl oored six men in her political debut in 1994, to represent Mukono South during the Constitution making process, played an instrumental role in ensuring the ratifi cation of the African Charter on the Right of the Children.
Passion to protect children drives Canon Dr. Sheila Ndyanabangi
trueDr. Ndyanabangi in her office in Kampala. Photos by Dennis Dibele
With a burning ambition to become a lawyer, a young Sheila Zaramba Ndyanabangi did not guess fate would haul her to where she probably belongs. She is doctor now, married to a former medical person and with a sibling in medical practice. Her life revolves around medicine, especially children’s health.
Ndyanabangi is currently the principal medical officer at the Ministry of Health in charge of mental health and control of substance abuse.
Felix Ogong is an advocate for investment in children
trueOgong wants a powerful body such as a commission or authority set up to fight for children’s rights
Felix Okot Ogong is not just an astute politician and Member of Parliament for Dokolo county. Away from his political hat, Ogong is an icon in the struggle for rights, freedoms and the general well-being of Uganda’s children.
The former state minister for youth and children’s affairs, says children’s issues are not only enormous, but so complex that the tangible impact of the so many child-focused non-government organisations (NGOs) and government interventions may not be immediately felt.
“To understand the rights of Uganda’s children today in regard to the impact of government policies and NGO work, you need to do so from three standpoints; the immediate, intermediate and long-term achievements,” he says.
Restoring hope to Uganda’s children
trueJanet Museveni with Karimojong children formerly living on the streets of Kampala. PPU photo
No one expected them to amount to anything; they had lost it all, with no parents and place to call home. These were children in the Luwero triangle, which bore the brunt of the liberation war.
The strong family and community bonds that held society together providing a haven for children had been broken owing to the war and the HIV/AIDS pandemic that was spreading like a bush fi re at the time. A burden was placed on her heart after a heartrending sight on her first visit to a reception centre in Naluvule, Luwero in 1986, forcing the First Lady, Janet Museveni to think of something that would change the plight of these children.
FACT FILE
- 1998: Graduated with a bachelor’s degree in education from Makerere University.
- 2006: Was elected MP for Ruhama county in Ntungamo district.
- February 16, 2009: Was appointed state minister for Karamoja affairs
- 2011: Was re-elected MP for Ruhama county.
- May 27, 2011: Was appointed minister for Karamoja affairs.
- Founder and patron of National Strategy for the Advancement of Rural Women in Uganda
- Founder and patron of the Uganda Youth Forum.
- Patron of the safe-motherhood initiative
- Co-chair of CURE Hospital – a special hospital for crippled children.
- Active member of Organisation of African First Ladies against HIV/AIDS, which unites the First Ladies of Africa in the fight against HIV and AIDS.
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Wadri was abducted in the line of duty
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MP Patrick Amuriat (left) listens to the Auditor General John Muwanga (right) and Wadri (centre)at
Speke Resort Munyonyo Hotel in Kampala last year
Most civil servants in accounting departments have met the man, exchanged pleasantries as well as hot words with him. But all the accounting offi cers who had issues with the way they expended public funds during the Eighth Parliament will perhaps never forget appearing before Kassiano Wadri Ezati.
