President Yoweri Museveni has assured the Uganda Human Rights Commission that the NRM government will increase the organization’s funding to enable it come out of donor dependence. The President gave the assurance yesterday at State House, Entebbe during a meeting with a delegation of Uganda Human Rights Commission, led by Acting Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Katebalirwe Amooti wa Irumba.
The President told the delegation that issues pertaining to remuneration are important because Commissioners should be adequately remunerated to ensure that they are able to concentrate on their work wholeheartedly. He assured the delegation that he will discuss the pertinent issues with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning for more funding to the Uganda Human Rights Commission.
Regarding the role of cultural leaders in the country, the President emphasized that it is unconstitutional for the cultural leaders to participate in partisan politics because they are charged with the responsibility of leading all the people irrespective of their subjects diverse political persuasions. He also stressed that those Ugandans that are involved in acts of violence will be held accountable for their actions.
Dr. Irumba reported to the President that the Uganda Human Rights Commission has been allotted Shs4.7 billion from donor funding in the 2015/2016 financial year while the Government of Uganda is disbursing Shs.7.2 billion to the Commission in the same fiscal year. He told the President that the Commission faces challenges arising from insufficient funding, none payments of tribunal awards and inadequate number of staff, among others. He observed that the performance of the Uganda Human Rights Commission would be better if the Commission received 100% government funding.
Dr. Irumba presented to President Museveni the Certificate of Award that the Uganda Human Rights Commission got in 2002 from the International Committee for all national human rights commissions that rated Uganda Human Rights Commission with an A+ as being one of the best performers. He also presented to the President another certificate of award from the Africa Commission for Human Rights that selected Uganda Human Rights Commission as the best Human Rights Commission performer in Africa in 2012.
Dr. Amooti wa Irumba also briefed the President on the work that is being undertaken by the Uganda Human Rights Commission, its achievements as well as its monitoring report on the just ended 2016 general elections. He commended the National Resistance Movement government for upholding human rights in the country saying that the Commission has continued to enjoy an uninterrupted work schedule that has made them to undertake their chores effectively.
