PWDs demand audience with Museveni over pledges
TORORO.
Persons with disabilities (PWDs) have threatened to boycott the forthcoming by-elections to fill vacant positions for Members of Parliament for PWDs over unfulfilled pledges made by President Museveni.
The positions include MP representing PWDs in northern and western Uganda. The two constituencies became vacant after courts nullified the February 2016 elections.
The by-elections are scheduled to take place on July 25.
The PWDs said during a campaign rally organised by National Resistance Movement secretariat in Tororo that they can only participate in the elections after meeting President Museveni.
The rally was attended by PWD delegates from eastern region.
Complaint
“We need a platform to voice out our concerns relating to unfulfilled pledges that the President has always made regarding improving the welfare of PWDs,” Mr Charles Okello Mwera, a PWD delegate from Tororo, said.
He said among the outstanding pledges include the increment in special grants, giving motorcycles to district councillors representing PWDs, enabling PWDs to access public institutions and commercial buildings and setting a special scholarship for PWDs.
“We need the President to tell us what has happened to the pledges that never come true,” Mr Okello, said.
The NRM chairperson for PWDs, Mr Gabriel Kato, apologised for the unfulfilled pledges and added that the secretariat is working to seeing that the conditions for PWDs are improved.
Several people have expressed interest in the PWD parliamentary posts. They include Ms Joyce Achan Ondoga and Mr William Nokorach (PWDs in northern Uganda) and Dr Bernard Mayanja, Mr Hudu Katuramu and Martine Babu who are contesting for PWD western Uganda parliamentary seat.
