Know Your Rights 17: Rights of Minorities

The Ugandan Bill of Rights, Chapter 4 of the Constitution of Uganda, details the rights of all Ugandan citizens. Whether you are a person with a disability (PWD) or not, all these rights are yours.

Article 36 of the Constitution of Uganda says that minorities have the right to take part in decision making and that their views and interests should be taken into account. 

Article 36 does not define "minority" however the 2001 report Uganda: The Marginalization of Minorities makes the point that it is:

the mandatory duty on the state to take affirmative action in favour of groups who have been historically disadvantaged and discriminated against on the grounds of age, disability, gender and/or any other reason created by history, tradition or custom. 

If you are a PWD, you are maybe entitled to additional support like the Acholi, (see PWDs in Acholi Sub-Region Cries for Help):

PWDs in Acholi Sub-region have decried high level of neglect and stigmatization both from the Local Community and the Government. 

The Disabled persons made their plea recently during a Policy Dialogue aimed to discuss access to Land Justice, organized by Action Aid Uganda from Gulu town.

Board Members of Gulu disabled Person's Union

Article 36 of the Constitution of Uganda is written like this:

36. Protection of rights of minorities. 

Minorities have a right to participate in decision-making processes, and their views and interests shall be taken into account in the making of national plans and programmes.