‘Prioritise albinism in the next Budget’

The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, has demanded that the Ministry of Education and Sports prioritises provision of sunscreen for people living with albinism by including it in the 2019/2020 Financial Year budget.

Kadaga said that the Ministry of Education should buy sunscreen and glasses for pupils and students with albinism especially those in primary and secondary schools instead of leaving the burden to their parents.

“How can government fail to provide for less than one million people,” Kadaga wondered.

The Speaker made the call while officiating at two separate events in Jinja and Mbale held in commemoration of International Albinism Awareness Day that falls on 13 June 2018.

The events were attended by the Member of Parliaments representing people with disabilities, officials from Ministry of Education and Sports, United Nations High Commission for Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission among others.

Kadaga said the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development should expedite the process of enacting the law on People with Disabilities (PWDs).

“I have a complaint with the Ministry of Gender. They have withdrawn the bill three times. The minister needs to get serious with addressing issues affecting PWDs,” said Kadaga.

The Member of Parliament representing PWDs (NRM, Eastern Region), Hellen Grace Asamo blamed the plight of PWDs on the failure by the Ministry of Education and Sports to pass the Special Needs Education Policy.

“For over 10 years, the policy has been shelved in the ministry. This policy clearly spells out how children with disabilities should be handled in schools and if passed, it will improve their livelihoods,” said Asamo.

The legislator however, asked people living with albinism to champion awareness saying that this will greatly reduce the discrimination and myths surrounding albinism.

The Executive Director for Albinism Umbrella Organization in Uganda, Olive Namutebi, appealed for support towards a planned establishment of a factory to locally produce sunscreen.

Namutebi also called for the expeditious enactment of laws protecting children with albinism in schools so as to encourage them to study.

“Without education, people living with albinism are nothing,” said Namutebi.

The Assistant Commissioner at the Ministry of Education and Sports, George Mutekanga revealed  that the guidelines and policy on PWDs would soon be passed.

This year’s International Albinism awareness day was commemorated under the theme, “Shining our light to the world.”