The First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs, Rebecca Kadaga, praised the government for improving efforts to help people with albinism. She spoke at the International Albinism Awareness Day (IAAD) event held at Busoga Square in Jinja city.
People with albinism from across the Busoga subregion gathered at Busoga Square to celebrate their rights. They began the day with processions on Jinja Main Street.
IAAD is celebrated annually on June 13. This year’s theme was “10 Years of IAAD: A Decade of Collective Action,” focusing on raising awareness, understanding, and support for people with albinism.
Kadaga, who is also the Kamuli district woman member of parliament, mentioned that the government has made skin lotions available as medication for people with albinism. She shared her success in convincing the government to reduce the tax on these lotions, highlighting that they are necessary for health, not just cosmetics.
She also mentioned that she had instructed the head of the Uganda Bureau of Statistics to count the number of people with albinism in the country to help plan better for their needs. Kadaga assured that the challenges faced by people with albinism would be addressed over time.
Peter Ojiki, the Executive Director of the Nile Union of Persons with Albinism (SNUPA), raised concerns about the high number of albinos dying from skin cancer due to a lack of sufficient skin lotion. He noted some progress in the past ten years, including tax reductions on their medications, but stressed the need for these essential lotions to be available at every health center to combat skin cancer.
Ojiki also highlighted the discrimination people with albinism face in the job market despite being well-educated, stating that many are denied employment due to misconceptions about their abilities.
The United Nations initiated International Albinism Awareness Day in 2014 to fight discrimination against people with albinism and to raise awareness. Each year, the UN selects a theme to showcase the achievements of people with albinism and to emphasize that albinism should not prevent anyone from living a full life. The day also focuses on addressing other health issues related to albinism
