IDOP Message to LCV Kasese

The Constitution of the Republic of Uganda (As at 15^th February 2006) Article 32 Clause (1) states that “Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, the State shall take affirmative action in favour of groups marginalised on the basis of gender, age, disability or any other reason created by history, tradition of custom, from the purpose of redressing imbalances which exist against them”[1].

The Local Government Act which provides for representation of older women and men at all levels of local councils [Cap 243, Section 23 (6)] which states that “There shall be two elderly persons a male and a female above the age of 60 years on every lower local government council who shall be elected by the respective executive committees of the associations of the elderly”[2].

Despite the presence of the above provisions in the laws of Uganda, older persons have continued to be neglected with no programme specifically designed to meet their needs and we as older persons therefore request your excellence to urgently attend to our requests/issues as expressed.

SOCIAL PROTECTION:

Key note: 37% of older persons are among the poorest of the poor in Uganda. Poverty eradication policies, frame works and programs to not target older persons.

Therefore as older persons:

·        We urge the government to expedite the approval of the Program Plan of Action for the Older Persons’ Policy and its implementation.

·        We urge the government to formulate social protection interventions that will adequately meet the needs of vulnerable older persons.

·        We urge the government to establish a universal non-contributory pension for older persons.

·        We urge the government to absorb local government pensioners to get their pensions from the Ministry of Public Service, unlike to day when local government pensioners are confined to district revenues.

·        We urge the government to expedite the approval of the Bill for the National Council of Older Persons.

·        We urge the government to permit the representation of older persons from local council 1 to parliament.

 

FOR GOD AND MY COUNTRY

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[1] 1997 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda as amended

[2] 1997 Local Government Act CAP 243