By Racheal N Namuli
The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, in partnership with Enabel, a Belgian development agency focused on sustainable development, has today handed over essential equipment to four districts in a bid to strengthen local government capacity in promoting responsible business conduct and human rights compliance.
The handover ceremony, which took place at Enabel’s headquarters in Kololo, was presided over by Bernard Mujuni, Commissioner at the Ministry of Gender.
The beneficiary districts, Mukono, Masindi, Hoima, and Buliisa were identified as some of the most affected by human rights violations. The donated items include motorcycles, laptops, desktop computers, and printers, all aimed at enhancing the ability of district staff to monitor, document, and respond to human rights cases more effectively.
According to Mujuni, these districts have consistently reported high numbers of human rights abuse cases. He noted that the challenges of limited transportation and inadequate data management tools have hindered effective response by local government staff.
“Many of our officers on the ground face difficulties in accessing remote communities and properly recording case data. This equipment will go a long way in addressing those challenges,” he said.
While Uganda continues to grapple with rising incidents of human rights violations, there is currently no definitive statistical data quantifying the extent. However, initiatives like this are seen as critical steps toward building local resilience and institutional capacity in upholding human rights.
Mujuni also revealed that more districts will be considered for similar support in the future as part of the ministry’s broader strategy to promote human rights across the country.
