Latest news with #LabourandSocialDevelopment
Zawya
26-03-2025
- Health
- Zawya
Uganda: Deputy Speaker Tayebwa Calls for More Funds for Child Disability Benefit
Uganda is set to introduce a National Child Disability Benefit to support families raising children with disabilities. This was the focus of the National Child Benefit High-Level Dialogue Meeting organized by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development in partnership with UNICEF and held at the Kampala Sheraton Hotel on Wednesday, 26 March 2025. The event, themed 'Towards inclusive social protection: exploring a child disability benefit for Uganda,' brought together government officials, legislators, and development partners. Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, emphasized that disability support is a right, not a privilege, and criticized the Shs3 billion initial allocation, calling it inadequate and urging the government to commit at least Shs10 billion to the initiative. 'If we are to start this as a fund, let's be serious. It would be a betrayal to the disability movement to allocate such a small amount,' Tayebwa stated. He praised the Ministry of Gender for its efforts in supporting vulnerable groups but raised concerns about the potential misuse of funds by irresponsible parents. 'This money should improve the welfare of children, not serve as compensation for parents,' he cautioned. Gender Minister Betty Amongi explained that families caring for disabled children face extra financial burdens, with 50 percent of such households living in extreme poverty. 'This benefit will help cover costs like transport, medicine, and rehabilitation support. A child with disabilities requires more financial support than their siblings,' she said. She also highlighted the gendered impact of caregiving, noting that many fathers abandon mothers of disabled children, leaving them to shoulder the burden alone. State Minister for Disability Affairs, Hellen Asamo, urged a shift in societal attitudes, recalling her own struggles growing up with a disability. 'I didn't go to school like my siblings—I was given a shortcut. We must stop thinking for people with disabilities and instead ask them what they need,' she said. She warned against overprotection and exclusion, emphasizing the need for inclusive policies. Aggrey Kibenge, Permanent Secretary at the Gender Ministry, reaffirmed the government's commitment to disability inclusion, outlining plans for regular cash transfers to families as part of the benefit. UNICEF Country Representative, Robin Nandy, praised Uganda's social protection efforts, highlighting the economic benefits of investing in disability support. 'Every shilling invested in a child disability benefit can generate up to Shs2.5 in the economy,' he noted. Uganda aims to learn from countries like Kenya and South Africa, which have successfully implemented similar programmes. Parliament, through the Deputy Speaker and attending MPs, pledged full support to ensure children with disabilities receive the care and assistance they need. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.
Zawya
13-02-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
Uganda: Pastors want cohabiting couples declared as married
Pentecostal pastors in Kampala have asked for a provision in the Marriage Bill, 2024 to consider cohabiting couples as married. This, the pastors under the National Pastors Platform of Kampala said will prevent the growing tendency of men who take long to commit to relationships, even when children are involved and the resultant damage to women and children. Led by their chairperson, Bishop David Kiganda, the group proposes that couples who stay together for at least five years should automatically be declared as married. 'Cohabitation will weaken marriages, some people do not wish to marry and they have ruined many lives,' Kiganda said adding that 'We suggest that staying with a person for a period of at least five years should automatically be qualified as marriage provided none of the party is committed in another legal marriage'. The pastors submitted their views on the Marriage Bill, 2024 during a joint meeting of the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee and the Committee on Gender, Labour and Social Development on Wednesday, 12 February 2025. The two committees are mandated to jointly process the Marriage Bill, 2024 moved by Tororo District Woman MP, Hon. Sarah Opendi and the Sexual Offences Bill, 2024 moved by Soroti District Woman MP, Hon, Anna Adeke. The pastors asked MPs to make stringent requirements for dissolution of marriage, citing instances of connivance and collusion by some couples for selfish intentions. They observed that the current law on marriage does not prescribe what constitutes irretrievable marriage and asked that clear grounds be spelled out in the new law. On their quest for the new law to allow rural and small Pentecostal churches to conduct weddings, MPs said the proposal would compromise the legality of marriages. 'If you want to kill the spirit of your sect, try to dilute it by giving authority to those church leaders at village and parish levels. You want to expand it but in the process you may fail to control those leaders,' said Hon. Charles Bakkabulindi (NRM, Workers' Representative). The national representative for Persons with Disabilities, Hon. Laura Kanushu questioned the legitimacy of upcountry churches which have no affiliation to the already established Pentecostal churches. 'There are many of those churches which do not subscribe to their headquarters. Are you saying that those churches which do not meet the legal requirements to solemnize marriage should be allowed?' Kanushu asked. Kanushu was concerned that Christian groups that have so far appeared before the committees, have varying views on principles guiding Christian marriage, saying it will be hard for the committee to defend their views while presenting the Bill to Parliament. 'We had thought that Christians will be on the same page, but we do not know who is interpreting the Bible correctly. At least women activist groups have similar views; we need to defend the Bill but it will be hard if we have different views from you,' said Kanushu. MPs were however, undecided on the pastors' request to have their leaders qualified as registrars of marriage as it is provided for the Bahai and Buddhist marriages. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.
