EOC Orders Government Action on Nubian, Lendu Rights Amidst Discrimination Findings

The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) has ordered the Ugandan government to take concrete steps to end the systemic discrimination and exclusion faced by the Nubian, Kebhu, and Lendu communities in the West Nile region.

In a ruling on Monday, EOC Commissioner Denise Tusiime stated that despite constitutional guarantees, these minority groups experience unequal access to essential services like education and employment, alongside challenges in governance and land rights. This decision stems from an inquiry initiated after the Nubian community in Arua City and Kebhu leaders in Zombo District raised complaints of marginalization.

During the inquiry, representatives highlighted decades of political and social exclusion, noting a lack of designated homeland, underrepresentation in politics, and difficulties securing jobs and promotions despite qualifications. The EOC found these practices to be systemic discrimination that violated the communities’ constitutional rights.

The EOC has mandated the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, among other agencies, to formally recognize the Nubian community within government systems within 12 months. This includes facilitating the establishment of a Nubian cultural institution and ensuring their distinct ethnic identity is considered in public planning and service delivery.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development has been instructed to form a taskforce within six months to investigate historical land dispossession claims and propose restitution measures. Local authorities in Arua City are also directed to reform governance structures to ensure equitable representation for ethnic minorities.

Additional directives target the National Identification and Registration Authority, Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control, Judiciary, and ministries of Health and Education. These bodies are tasked with addressing language barriers, improving access to identity documents and public services, and promoting the inclusion of the Nubi language in educational settings and public institutions.

These rulings follow testimonies detailing historical injustices, including denial of education and political exclusion, which echo grievances dating back to the colonial era. The EOC’s intervention aims to compel the state to uphold existing constitutional provisions for these marginalized groups.

Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/eoc-directs-govt-on-nubians-lendu-rights-5466294