By Ambrose Gahene,
KAMPALA
The Social Protection Dialogue on Tuesday was concluded at Kampala Hotel Africana with a call on stakeholders to endeavor to find a lasting National strategy on social protection to address economic inequalities in Ugandan society.
Themed: “Investment in Social Protection across the Lifecycle”, participants at the dialogue observed that social and economic inequalities in Ugandan society are the root cause for acute poverty, criminality and all sorts of evil acts.
Professor Ezra Suruma, Makerere University Councilor, said to address social inequality, there is a need for the Government to emulate Norway and Alaska state in the US, where part of oil revenues are earmarked to address the needs of citizens, especially the vulnerable poor and old persons.
“Ugandan oil revenues should be divided 50 by 50 to benefit both the Government, the oil companies and the ordinary vulnerable citizens”, he said.
He said no Ugandan should live in abject poverty and inhuman conditions because the right to better living conditions is a fundamental Human Right.
Rt. Hon Rebecca Kadaga, the First Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of East African Community Affairs, who was the Guest of Honor at the dialogue; said a lot needs to be done to guarantee social protection. She commended the Parliamentary Forum on Social Protection for their tireless work to bridge the gap in social and economic inequality among Ugandans.
“I wish to commit my commitments towards social protection in Uganda”, she said.
Hon. Dominique Gidudu Mafwabi, the Minister of State for Elderly Affairs, in the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development (MGLSD), said his Ministry has been at the forefront of implementing various social protection programmes aimed at enhancing the livelihoods and building resilience of Uganda’s population.
“Social protection is vital in safeguarding vulnerable populations and
reducing poverty. It is widely recognized as a fundamental strategy for ensuring
the well-being and social inclusion of individuals and communities world over”, he said.
He said the Social Protection agenda is anchored under the National Social Protection Policy of 2015. He pointed out that under the policy, Social Protection is defined as all interventions both public and private aimed at addressing risks and vulnerability.
“Raising public awareness is one of the key strategic interventions for effective policy implementation and improved service delivery. Social protection plays a critical role in addressing poverty, inequality, and vulnerability in Uganda”, he added.
He added that; the mobilization and coordination of these engagements will be supported by the Social Protection Community of Practice-Uganda Chapter, a self-formed group that brings together practitioners and any other parties with an interest in social protection to drive learning and provide a space for knowledge sharing, mentorship, training, and problem solving.
Hon. Flavia Kabahenda, the Parliamentary Social Protection Forum Chairperson, reiterated the need for inclusive participation of stakeholders in addressing social and economic inequalities in Ugandan society. She said social protection should not only be a humanitarian thing but a mix of development concepts, adding that there is need for citizens’ participation to support social protection strategic priorities.
“We need a National social protection strategy to do oversight because as we go out to the field, we are starting a new journey”, she said.
