Entebbe Municipality hosted the first ever World Elder Abuse awareness Day in Uganda on Thursday right from the time it was set aside by the United Nations in 2012 to raise awareness about abuse of Older persons. Speaking at the day’s celebrations that was held at St. Mark’s Church, John Orach, the Chairperson National Network for Older Persons in Uganda (NNOPU) and a member of the National Council for older persons categorically stated that older persons in Uganda have together drafted a petition that seeks to have Uganda’s electoral laws amended so as to have a representative in Parliament. Mr. Orach revealed that the petition will also be forwarded to the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) so as to awaken the institution to promote and protect the rights of older persons.
“We as older persons in Uganda have drafted a petition demanding for a Member of Parliament because majority of us go through several challenges among others; Physical and sexual abuse, domestic violence, Psychological and financial neglect, isolation, land grabbing and self neglect. In the case for widows, they are often denied inheritance of property and many are often accused of witchcraft. We are being assisted by several NGOs and Community Based organizations (CBOs) including Help Age International, Uganda Reach the Aged Association (URAA), Health Nest Uganda (HENU) to ensure that our petition is a success”, said John Orach.
Sulaiman Madada, the former minister of state for people with disabilities (PWD’s) and elderly called on all the older persons in their respective associations to continue raising awareness about their plight adding that it is through awareness that their issues and demands will be addressed.
“We have seen the youth; people with disabilities (PWDs), workers and women successfully raise awareness about their issues. Older persons should learn from them and keep raising awareness about their issues until their voices are heard. Councilors representing the elderly should be sensitized so as to enable them carry out advocacy work on issues concerning the elderly. However, we also call on the older persons who engage in immoral acts like defiling their grand children to desist from such acts”, Madada said.
Meanwhile the Entebbe Municipality Member of Parliament Hon. Rose Tumusiime who presided over the celebrations called on the councilors representing the elderly to register all the older persons in their respective localities. She appealed to them to be voices for their fellow older persons. Hon. Tumusiime urged councils to consider and allocate funds to assist the older persons adding that on many occasions only people living with disabilities (PWDs) are allocated funds.
Over 500 older persons mainly from Entebbe Municipality and neighboring areas graced the celebrations that were given free medical services on several ailments by the Health Nest Uganda (HENU), Special Forces Command (SFC), Jehovah Alive For Old Age (JAFOA). The celebrations were held under the theme; Understand and End Rights Violation of Older Persons: A Human Rights Challenge.
