By Our Reporter
KAMPALA – Legislators have announced the 3rd Parliamentary Charity Walk, and this time around, it is aimed at raising funds for a Rehabilitation Centre for Persons living with Albinism in Uganda.
The walk will be flagged off by The Speaker Rt Hon Rebecca A. Kadaga at Parliament Parking grounds this Sunday, 13th January.
Albinism is a genetic condition where people are born without the usual pigment (color) in their bodies. Their bodies aren’t able to make a normal amount of melanin, the chemical that is responsible for eye, skin, and hair color.
In October last year, Hon. Aliro Omara, a consultant for the Office of the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights was backed by the Uganda Albinism Society to present a report that highlighted how persons with albinism are discriminated culturally, socially and even by the government in Uganda.
The report recommended the need to create and raise awareness about albinism and the issues surrounding it. “There should be campaigns and albinism should be introduced into the curriculum; teachers and medical workers need to be sensitive to people with albinism,” Hon. Aliro Omara sad.
“Impunity or any stigmatization of albinism should be stopped by all means. The only way to achieve this is by putting in place a law to protect people with albinism,” Omara noted.
Later, Kadaga said the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development should expedite the process of enacting the law on People with Disabilities.
“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 the MP representing PWDs (Eastern Region), Hellen Grace Asamo.
