Foreword.
In accordance with Article 32(3) of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, 1995, the Equal Opportunities Commission was established. The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) was set up to give effect to the state’s constitutional mandate to eliminate discrimination and inequalities against any individual or group of persons on the ground of sex, age, race, color, ethnic origin, tribe, birth, creed, or religion, health status, social or economic standing, political opinion or disability. The EOC in brief is to enforce compliance with legislation on equal opportunities, promote affirmative action and encourage inclusion into government programmes by all on the basis of equal opportunities.
During the process of making policies, programmes and various interventions for the populace it was realised that there were inequalities, marginalization and discrimination. Therefore, it was deemed necessary to create a body that would help people realise their rights and potential to improve their quality of life, challenge and stop persistent discrimination, deprivation and exclusion and promote equality and social justice for all. Hence, the establishment of the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC).
The National Equal Opportunities Policy of 2006 and The National Action Plan for the National Equal Opportunities Policy 2009-2013 were the precursors to the Equal Opportunities Commission which was set up in 2010 thus fulfilling the Constitutional and Statutory provisions.
The mandate of the Commission is wide and the constituency is large. It was therefore necessary to start by finding out whether the people know their right to equal opportunities and how much of the population are aware of the interventions which have so far been put in place by the government. It was also important to find out what the effect of those interventions has been.
For this purpose the EOC embarked on carrying out a baseline study in certain selected districts, at least two from each region of Uganda. These districts are Masaka and Wakiso (Central), Kapchorwa and Abim (East), Arua and Gulu (North) and Kanungu and Kisoro (South).
The Commission is committed to ensuring that all Ugandans have equal access to opportunities and to promoting affirmative action for vulnerable groups like orphans and vulnerable children (OVC), the youth, women, older persons, persons with disabilities (PWD), people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV), and Ethnic Minority Groups (EMGs) among others who have been victims of marginalisation and /or discrimination.
The Commission is grateful to the Government of Uganda (GOU), Democratic Governance Facility (DGF) and Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbelt (GIZ) for the support and assistance extended to it, both technical and financial. This survey is a result of this partnership.
We appreciate the Resident District Commissioners (RDCs), the district and sub county local government leaders, technical officers and the Uganda Police Force (UPF) for the input they provided during the survey on the state of equal opportunities in Uganda.
The Commission invites you all to share in this Report on the state of equal opportunities in Uganda 2013.
I extend appreciation to the Members and staff of the Commission, who together with some consultants, worked tirelessly to produce this Report.
For God and My Country
Rita S. Matovu.
Chairperson, Equal Opportunities Commission.