Sarah Kanyike assumes new office at Gender Ministry

Aug 26, 2020

She was warmly ushered into in her office and handed a string of instruments including an official Ministerial vehicle for the smooth execution of her duties, where she pledged to promote teamwork that will enhance service delivery at the grassroots.

The newly appointed Minister of State for Disability and Elderly Affairs, Hon. Sarah Kanyike, on Wednesday, assumed office at the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development. 

Kanyike was received at the Ministry by a team of technical officials led by the Acting Permanent Secretary, James Ebitu, who ran her through a series of welcome rituals.

She was warmly ushered into in her office and handed a string of instruments including an official Ministerial vehicle for the smooth execution of her duties, where she pledged to promote teamwork that will enhance service delivery at the grassroots.

Ebitu pledged that the technical team was ready to support Kanyike in ensuring that she delivers on the tasks assigned to her by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in fulfilment of the social contract that the NRM government has with the People of Uganda.

He noted that the Ministry codenamed the "Ministry of the People" has a wide mandate that covers all demographics of the population including children, youth, workers, employers, older persons, Persons with Disabilities, cultural and traditional institutions.

He, however, observed that the resources allocated to the Ministry are still incomparable to the mandate.

"One of the challenges is that some stakeholders have not fully appreciated the importance of the mandate especially in regard to being a frontrunner in mobilization and sensitization of the communities for the effective uptake of all Programmes under the various sectors," Ebitu said, adding that the low appreciation of the mandate is mostly manifested in the limited resource allocation for the critical activities of the Ministry and the Social Development Sector at large."

Kanyike revealed that her philosophy of public service is to deliver services to the communities and leave a positive legacy through her tenure.

"The differences in political parties and colours come as a by the way but all that the people want is service delivery, and that is exactly what I want us to work together on, to achieve," she noted, re-echoing the importance of the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development due to its wide mandate.

Kanyike extended her appreciation to President Yoweri Museveni for recognizing her contribution at KCCA and assigning her to a new position with new challenges.

Minister Sarah Kanyike(right) chairs her first meeting after taking over office at the Gender Ministry on Wednesday. (Courtesy picture)

 

The Minister's office that Kanyike takes over has been vacant for over 5 years with Hon. Sulaiman Kyebakoze Madada having been the last official to hold it.

Among the key Programmes that Kanyike will oversee include; the Expanding Social Protection under which older persons above 80 years receive a monthly stipend of sh25,000, Special Grants for Persons with Disabilities and a host of legal and policy frameworks for the two interest groups.

Kanyike was a member of the Democratic Party (DP), who, until elevation to Cabinet, had served as Kampala's Deputy Lord Mayor.

She was approved as a minister by Parliament on July 28. Accompanied by her brother, Hajj Kalifa Kanyike, and other close family members, Kanyike swore an oath of allegiance and secrecy administered by the head of Public Service, John Mitala at the State House in Entebbe.

During the swearing-in ceremony, President Museveni also expressed sympathy for Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago after his deputy at City Hall joined the Government.

"I want to sympathise with my son, Lukwago, because he almost got a heart attack. I am very sorry for him because I captured a big fish from my old party, DP," Museveni said.

 

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});