President Yoweri Museveni has assured the Uganda Human Rights Commission that his government will increase the organization's funding to enable it come out of donor dependence.
The President gave the assurance last evening at State House, Entebbe during a meeting with a delegation of Uganda Human Rights Commission, led by Acting Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Katebalirwe Amooti wa Irumba.
The President told the delegation that issues pertaining to remuneration are important because Commissioners should be adequately remunerated to ensure that they are able to concentrate on their work wholeheartedly.
He assured the delegation that he will discuss the pertinent issues with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning for more funding to the Uganda Human Rights Commission.
Regarding the role of cultural leaders in the country, the President emphasized that it is unconstitutional for the cultural leaders to participate in partisan politics because they are charged with the responsibility of leading all the people irrespective of their subjects diverse political persuasions. He also stressed that those Ugandans that are involved in acts of violence will be held accountable for their actions.
Dr. Irumba reported to the President that the Uganda Human Rights Commission has been allotted Shs4.7 billion from donor funding in the 2015/2016 financial year while the Government of Uganda is disbursing Shs.7.2 billion to the Commission in the same fiscal year.
He told the President that the Commission faces challenges arising from insufficient funding, none payments of tribunal awards and inadequate number of staff, among others.
He observed that the performance of the Uganda Human Rights Commission would be better if the Commission received 100% government funding.
