Parliament received a backlash from a section of Ugandans over the vehicles that were recently given to the former Speakers of Parliament of Uganda!
Obviously not all Ugandans were against this only that in our country it’s negative & controversial news that seem to trend!
Social Protection is very key for any country and it’s one of the performance indicators of any country’s social development!
Every person as he or she ages becomes weak and thus unable to work for himself or herself; this is because of health related issues but also legal issues given that organisations, companies and public service can not employ people of certain age!
Sadly it’s at this age when many elderly are attacked by various ailments some of them with no permanent cure and so they need medical care for the rest of their lives. Ailments like Diabetes, cancer, Pressure, kidney related illnesses etc.
Besides this, these are people who participate in various social and public events on invitation by the government, church, Local Councils etc and they are expected to actively participate hence a need for means of transport and some income.
So a country that does not invest in social protection to help the vulnerable is a doomed one.
So Ugandans condemning Parliament for supporting former leaders are like children who stop their father from selling any of his properties simply because he is old and this is a major source of domestic violence in most homes. They are the same Ugandans who are in Kampala cruising in big cars, enjoying music concerts, sports events etc when their parents deep in villages are languishing in poverty and destitution. Many only turn up at burial’s of their parents with small tents because they never built for their parents, buy expensive flowers and coffins to bury their parents who never enjoyed any comfort during their lifetime!
Our former leaders should be taken care of because they served our country. People like Prof Edward Rugumayo participated in figiting Idi Amin regime when some of our parents were either hiding in exile or not bothered at all. These people are still valuable to our country, they built this country and should reap it’s dividends.
Therefore the debate should be on how to expand social protection to all other Ugandans in public and private sector. How can our boda riders, taxi drivers, mechanics, welder’s, local Council leaders like Councilors, police officers, UPDF officers etc who often do risky jobs also be assured of dignified lives after retirement or in their old age.
Muhimbise George,
muhimbiseg@gmail.com
