Foreword
In accordance with Section 24 (2) and (3) of the Equal Opportunities Commission Act, 2007, which mandates the Commission to publish, disseminate and submit to Parliament Annual Reports on the state of Equal Opportunities in the Country, the EOC has produced the 9th Annual Report on the state of equal opportunities in Uganda. The theme of this report is “Unlocking Socio-Economic Potential for Inclusive Development.”
The Government of Uganda (GoU) is committed to achieving Vision 2040 under the theme of; ‘‘A transformed Ugandan society from a peasant to a modern and prosperous country within 30 years.’’ Similarly, Uganda’s National Development Plan (NDP III) Goal is to increase household incomes and improve the quality of life of Ugandans through sustainable industrialization for inclusive growth, employment, and wealth creation. In this regard, the Commission must track the distribution of the desired achievements across the different segments of the population. In addition, realising these commitments calls for the observance of equal opportunities for all in developing and implementing service delivery programmes, policies, and legislation.
Promoting equal opportunities for all and eliminating all forms of discrimination and inequalities is critical to addressing Uganda’s development concerns, especially for vulnerable groups. According to the Uganda National Population and Housing Census Report of 2014, Females constitute 51% of the population, Children 55%, Youth 22.5%, Older Persons 3.7%, Persons with disabilities 12.4%, and Ethnic Minorities 1.4%. These categories constitute over 80 per cent of the Country’s total population; therefore, dedicating efforts to realize their full potential is instrumental in achieving Uganda’s development targets and the Sustainable Development Goals.
The 9th Annual Report is structured in two Sections: Section1 presents the general introduction and the achievements attained by the Commission in redressing imbalances for the FY 2021/22. Section II presents the state of Equal Opportunities in the Country, focusing on: the performance of both Public and Private Institutions in ensuring equal opportunities for all persons and affirmative action for marginalized and vulnerable groups, the status of Employment, Access to capital and markets, Social Development; Works and Transport. It also presents the effects of natural and man-made hazards on vulnerable groups, the state of Child and Maternal Health, the conclusion, and the Key Recommendations. The Commission calls upon actors responsible for the thematic focus areas to take recommended actions to eliminate marginalisation and inequalities cited in the report.
The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) is committed to working with all State and Non-State actors to redress imbalances cited in this report and promote equal opportunities for all to realise a just and fair society wherein all persons have equal opportunities to participate and benefit from all spheres of life.
FOR GOD AND MY COUNTRY
Hon. Safia Nalule Juuko (Mrs.)
CHAIRPERSON