The Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) has been commended for capturing socio-economic issues in their 25th annual report.

Breaking away from the tradition of focusing solely on political and civil rights, the report sheds light on critical concerns such as hunger, landslides, disease outbreaks, environmental challenges, and access to essential resources like water and fishing.

Kasaija praised the commission’s comprehensive approach, stating that the report acknowledged critical challenges that had been previously overlooked.

He also commended the UHRC for addressing concerns such as hunger, famine, landslides, and disease outbreaks, including the impact of ebola and COVID-19.

“I saw you mentioning things like fuel prices, talking about famine, talking about environment, social security, ebola, this for me is impressive because you are tackling the real issues that affect the people,” he said.

The report also delved into environmental issues and recognised access to water and fishing as fundamental human rights. Additionally, it highlighted the adverse effects of fuel prices on the lives of Ugandans.

The Clerk expressed his appreciation for the commission’s ability to inspect places of detention, which he viewed as good for democracy.

Wangadya highlighted the increasing number of complaints from citizens. 4,370 complaints were registered in 2022 compared to 3,624 in 2021. Out of the complaints, 691 cases were registered.

“We believe that our recommendations to the government , if complied with, will strengthen the promotion and protection of human rights in the country. We urge the Committee on Human Rights to consider the report with the importance they deserve,” she said.

Wangadya called upon the government to provide adequate funding for the commission, emphasising the urgent need to improve their salaries and address the depleted fleet of motor vehicles.

She also stated that currently they are heavily reliant on donor funding, and yet UHRC requires sustained support from the government to carry out its statutory obligations effectively.

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Speaker of Ugandan parliament Anita Among has urged her counterparts in the legislative assemblies of the East Africa Community (EAC) to support the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, (Amendment), 2023 in order to protect and preserve African values.

Anita Among revealed this at the Bureau of Speakers of National Legislatures and the East African Assembly held in Arusha-Tanzania on Friday, May 19.

“As you may all be aware, the Parliament of Uganda, which I am delighted to Chair, passed the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, which now awaits the President’s assent. The Bill was received with mixed reactions, especially from our foreign donors. However, as a People-centered Parliament, we stood for what majority of the populace wants,” Among said.

She added, “Our culture and values are rapidly eroding, because of the vice of homosexuality that is now taking a toll on our children. It is therefore my humble appeal to you all to join the fight to protect values.”

Anita Among said that the Bill will heavily contribute to the overall target of sustaining unity within the East African region.

 “Our culture and values as a Community are our identity, and it is what affords us due recognition. We must preserve and protect it,” Among said.

She however apologized for her inability to physically join the meeting due to the constitutional timeline within which the Parliament of the Republic of Uganda has to pass the National Budget.

“I am thankful that our gathering here today is an affirmation of our unwavering commitment to an East African Community that works for everybody, more especially, the common East African,” she appreciated.

The key agenda Items for the meeting were;

The Draft Bill on the Establishment of the Bureau as an Organ of the Community

Enhancement of cooperation between EALA and National EAC Legislatures

She noted that the Bill may require an amendment to Article 9 (1) of the treaty for the establishment of the EAC, given the absence of clear provisions in the Treaty of EAC providing for establishment of new organs.

“In the meantime, it will be grossly beneficial for us to have a Secretary General of EAC to engage with the EAC Heads of State on the sidelines of the subsequent Summit’ Among said.

She further revealed that since its inception, the East African Parliamentary Institute is yet to realize its full potential. Its growth and development is dependent on member legislatures meeting their subscription obligations. The parliament of Uganda reiterates its full support for a vibrant responsive and credible East African parliamentary institute.

She said Uganda is ready to host the institution in case no member state applies. Adding, “I hope that in our subsequent meetings, we will be able to review the recent East African Inter-Parliamentary Games held in Juba, South Sudan.”

“Honorable Colleagues, I underscore the need to form functional relationships between our National Legislatures, in line with passing resolutions, especially those that protect and serve the interests of our people,” she concluded.

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President Yoweri Museveni has urged the Private Sector players to invest in the development of untapped tourism resources in Northern Uganda especially Fort Patiko and other historical sites.

Museveni also cautioned the private sector to put in place educational recreation services in all museums located in the entire region adding that the move shall make our country attractive not only to international tourists but also to domestic tourists.

He made the call in a speech read for him by Vice President Jessica Alupo during celebrations to the mark the International Museum Day 2023 in Gulu city organized under the theme, “Museums our Heritage”

Museveni further said that the improvement of connectivity through the development of tourism roads, the revival of the national carrier, Uganda Airlines, the conservation of our heritage as well as the promotion and showcasing of the potential of museums will diversify Uganda’s tourism offering, thus accelerating the national socio-economic growth.

He reiterated that the development of museums is a firm foundation for the dissemination of skills, knowledge, and information inherited from our great-grandparents in the advancement of civilization and technological innovation such as herbal medicine, architecture, and creative and performing arts which were used to solve societal problems, promote cultural tourism and empowerment of citizens to live in harmony.

He implored new cities like Gulu, Lira, Arua, Soroti, Fort Portal among others, to develop leisure and sports facilities that accommodate infrastructural developments of museums, to enable tourists to explore the country and equally helps in showcasing the cultures of this country.

This is why our national theme is; Museums, Our Heritage, the president emphasized.

Museveni further noted that museums in this country should be centers of showcasing our beautiful environment, memory, diversity, inclusivity, and socio-economic transformation.

He stressed that Uganda stands alone as a beautiful country endowed with diverse natural and cultural heritage.

Museveni said in northern Uganda, there are several tourism sites like Fort Patiko, Murchison Falls National Park, Aruu Falls, Tututuru hills, and Kabalega-Mwanga sites with rich ancient historical and archaeological information to be packaged for tourism development.

He told the congregation that the Government has now prioritized the development of supportive infrastructure to catalyze investments and the development of these sites.

He noted that the NRM Government has rolled out the Parish Development Model (PDM) to every Parish in this country to help fight household poverty.

He said NRM is extending the wealth creation programme country-wide, and maximizing prosperity everywhere, which will truly lead to broad-based peace among people and the nation.

“I am reliably informed that through sustainable conservation of Nature and Cultural Heritage, communities through PDM can benefit from the creation of one village, one product model, based on iconic heritage sites within our villages/parishes. For instance, I encourage the local communities to come up with handcrafts unique to their clans or totems that can be sold at these heritage touristic sites,” he said.

The Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Col. Tom Butime explained that the Tourism Programme is alive to the 2021-2026 NRM manifesto which recognizes tourism as an important source of growth with great potential for employment creation and foreign exchange earnings.

Evidence available indicates that Tourism has been growing consistently since the restoration of peace and security, and the sector continued to be the leading foreign exchange earner contributing $1.37 billion, as well as Shs6.17 trillion to Uganda’s GDP and employing over 6% of Uganda’s labor force.

Butime explained that the aim of the Museums and Monuments Act 2023 passed by Parliament this year, will consolidate and reform the law concerning the conservation of natural and cultural heritage; strengthen the management of cultural and natural heritage, classify museums, preserve and develop museums and monuments, the tangible and intangible heritage and also collect creative works of art.

He said Article 15 (1) provides for the establishment of city, regional, and district museums in Uganda.

“Therefore, our purpose for celebrating this year’s International Museum at Gulu city is to lay the foundation for the cities in Uganda to embrace developing museums as products for cultural tourism attraction,” Butime said.

A day earlier, in commemoration of the day, various high Value Tourism Opportunities in Northern Uganda had been highlighted.

Doreen.S. Katusiime the Permanent Secretary in the Tourism Ministry mentioned

Fort Patiko, which is within the vicinity of Gulu City marks a very important slave trade trail, which includes Fort Dufile (Moyo District) and Fort Wadelai (Nebbi District); in West Nile. “All the three sites host adequate land for top-notch tourism concessions”, she said.

The PS also made special focus on the Soroti Museum with four (4) acres for tourism concessions. “The most important factor to note; is that the Soroti Museum sits on prime land in the heart of the Soroti urban centre”, Katusime said.

Other high-value land for tourism concessions for Rock Art Sites are in Nyero (Kumi District), Mukongoro (Kumi District), Kakoro (Palisa District), Komuge (Bukedea District), Kapir (Ngora District).

The designation and inclusion of Napak (Karamoja region) in the first 100 International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) Geological Heritage Sites was also highlighted.

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