By Maria Mariam Namala
KAMPALA — The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) has urged online journalists to intensify public education on discrimination, marginalisation and equal rights, saying limited awareness of its mandate continues to prevent many Ugandans from seeking redress.
The call was made during a meeting between the Commission and digital media practitioners at Silver Springs Hotel in Bugolobi, Kampala, on Thursday. Officials challenged journalists to give greater attention to vulnerable communities and investigate inequalities in access to public services and opportunities.
Dr Shaft Nasser Mukwaya, the Secretary to the Commission, said digital platforms offered an effective way to communicate with large audiences and help citizens understand their rights. He called for closer cooperation between the EOC and online media to extend the reach of its public awareness campaigns.
Yusuf Muziransa, the Commission’s Principal Information and Communications Officer, said many citizens remained unfamiliar with the institution’s responsibilities, particularly its role in addressing discrimination. He said media partnerships could help inform the public about available complaint mechanisms and how to seek justice.
Mukwaya explained that the Commission has yet to establish permanent regional offices. However, some district community development offices have officers who receive complaints on its behalf, providing access for residents in areas including Mbale, Tororo and West Nile. He said plans were underway to establish permanent field offices.
He also asked journalists to scrutinise how government ministries, departments and agencies incorporate gender and equity considerations into their plans and budgets. The Commission assesses government budgets for compliance with gender and equity requirements and issues certificates before Parliament approves them. Mukwaya said some entities had faced budgetary restrictions after failing to meet the required standards.
The EOC secretary further highlighted the work of the Commission’s tribunal, which he said exercises powers equivalent to those of the High Court and has handled nearly 3,000 cases.
He announced that the Commission expects to launch its 13th annual report on the state of equal opportunities in November, although the exact date has not been determined. He urged reporters to examine whether citizens across the country enjoy equitable access to education, healthcare and political representation, as provided for under the Constitution.
Mukwaya cited regional disparities in poverty as an example of issues requiring greater media attention. He said national poverty declined from 20 per cent in 2021 to 16 per cent in 2024, while the rate in Karamoja increased from 65 per cent to 74 per cent during the same period.
He also pointed to low literacy levels in Karamoja and West Nile, adding that 53 per cent of households in West Nile remained dependent on subsistence activities. Other concerns included youth unemployment, which he put at 16 per cent based on Uganda Bureau of Statistics figures, with young women accounting for a significant share of those without jobs.
On education, Mukwaya said 52 per cent of learners who sat the Primary Leaving Examinations in 2020 had not transitioned to secondary school by 2024. He also cited figures indicating that approximately 533,000 children aged between 10 and 17 were married or living with partners.
He highlighted gaps in healthcare infrastructure, saying the Bukedi sub-region lacked a regional referral hospital and that island districts such as Kalangala and Buvuma had no operational marine ambulances. He further raised concerns about women’s representation in Parliament, noting that only 16 women in the current House had won directly elected seats.
The officials called on journalists to investigate these inequalities and amplify the experiences of communities that are often excluded from national discussions.
Muziransa specifically urged the media to give greater prominence to women, persons with disabilities, older people, children and other groups facing barriers to essential services and opportunities. He said coverage should examine the institutional and social factors behind exclusion rather than focus solely on the difficulties experienced by affected individuals.
“Let us verify information before publishing. Let us call to get facts and data,” Commission Member Habiibu Sseruwagi told the journalists at the close of the engagement. He encouraged media practitioners to consult the Commission whenever they needed clarification or supporting evidence.
Sseruwagi added that the EOC’s communications department, led by Muziransa, would continue engaging online journalists to strengthen working relations and improve the visibility of the Commission’s activities.
The Equal Opportunities Commission derives its mandate from Article 32(3) of the Constitution and the Equal Opportunities Commission Act, 2007. It is responsible for promoting equal opportunities, addressing discrimination and marginalisation, and monitoring affirmative action. A Commission training manual cites a 2012 baseline study that identified limited public awareness of equal opportunities as a challenge.