Browsing by Author "Onyango, J. Oloka"

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    The Problematique Of Economic, Social And Cultural Right In Globalized Uganda: A Conceptual Review
    (HURIPEC, 2007) Onyango, J. Oloka
    Uganda is largely considered a trailblazer in the debate about poverty eradication. Indeed, one of the most striking features of contemporary Ugandan society is the considerable rhetoric devoted to social and economic issues. However, the rhetoric is not matched by a deep-rooted and engaged policy framework within which questions such as the persistence of poverty, the consequences of socioeconomic marginalization and the improvement of equality of opportunity can be comprehensively tackled. That absence is clear in the lack of sensitivity to the human rights dimensions of the phenomenon—whether in the Poverty Eradication Action Plan (PEAP) or in the approach to the realization of the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The implications of this mismatch between rhetoric and practice are obvious. Among them, one could cite the absence of a culture of accountability, coupled with the perception that government actions in terms of providing safe water, education for all, or appropriate health facilities are gifts or privileges and not rights. This study—the first of nine in the HURIPEC Economic, Social & Cultural Rights(ESCRs) Project—provides a broad overview to the current situation of these rights in Uganda. It argues that the problem is not merely the fact that this category of rights is largely neglected in comparison to the attention that has been given to civil and political rights (CPRs), but also that when economic, social and cultural rights issues are addressed, there is an absence of a critical focus on questions such as access, accountability or appropriate mechanisms of redress. The study takes the issue of gender equality as the ‘mother of all rights’ in order to demonstrate that despite the considerable legislative and other reforms that have been pursued over the last two decades, there is an acute policy and implementation vacuum in this particular area of social concern. An assessment is also made of the key institutional mechanism involved in the formulation of policy on ESCRs, namely the legislature. Further assessments are made of the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) as well as of the Inspectorate of Government.