Uganda’s Ambassador to Sudan and Special Presidential Envoy to the State of Qatar, H.E. Ambassador Dr. Rashid Yahya Ssemuddu, has called on Members of Parliament to translate commitments to inclusion into practical improvements in education, healthcare, employment and access to public services.
In his keynote address prepared for the launch of the Parliamentary Forum on Humanity and Inclusion (PAFOHI) at the Parliamentary Conference Hall, Ambassador Ssemuddu urged legislators to place human dignity at the centre of lawmaking, budgeting, oversight and representation.
The launch was organised under the theme, “Leaving No One Behind: Parliament at the Heart of Humanity and Inclusion”.
“A child who cannot enter a classroom, an older person unable to reach a health centre, or a person with a disability excluded from employment experiences the consequences of our decisions in very concrete ways. Our response must therefore be equally concrete,” he said.
PAFOHI is conceived as a voluntary, non-partisan platform bringing together Members of Parliament and partners to champion the dignity and participation of vulnerable and marginalised people. Its priorities include persons with disabilities, persons with albinism, older persons, refugees, street-connected children and people living with mental health conditions.
Ambassador Ssemuddu emphasised that those affected by exclusion must help shape the decisions intended to improve their lives.
“The principle ‘Nothing about us without us’ should guide this Forum. People with lived experience should help identify priorities, design responses, and assess the results. Their participation must influence decisions,” he said.
He urged Parliament to examine whether legislation and budgets provide the resources needed to make inclusion effective. He cited support for learners with disabilities, communication services for patients who are deaf, accessible public buildings and healthcare within reach of older persons.
Sharing his own experience, Ambassador Ssemuddu described himself as “both a proud Sheikh and a proud public servant”. He expressed gratitude to H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for recognising his potential to contribute beyond religious service.
He recalled that, while pursuing his PhD at the Islamic University of Madinah in Saudi Arabia, the President entrusted him with responsibilities as a Goodwill Ambassador for Investment and Trade in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States, before subsequently appointing him as an Ambassador and Special Presidential Envoy.
He said that experience demonstrated the importance of looking beyond stereotypes and giving every Ugandan a fair opportunity to contribute to national development.
Drawing on his diplomatic engagements concerning Sudan, Ambassador Ssemuddu also highlighted the connection between peace, dignity and inclusion. He called for support that enables refugees, displaced people and their host communities to access services, build livelihoods and live together peacefully.
For the Forum’s first year, he proposed five priorities: accessible community consultations; a manageable set of barriers to address; stronger links between advocacy, budgets and oversight; partnerships guided by community needs; and open reporting on progress.
According to its concept note, PAFOHI envisages inclusion reviews of legislation, budget tracking, visits to schools, hospitals and refugee settlements, and training for Members of Parliament and parliamentary staff. It also proposes partnerships to support assistive devices, scholarships and livelihoods.
The launch programme provided for opening statements by coordinator Mr. Hassan Wasswa, Ambassador Ssemuddu and Hon. Richard Owere Machika, MP for West Budama North East, followed by an official launch session, a presentation on the Forum’s objectives and plenary discussions.
Ambassador Ssemuddu expressed readiness, within his diplomatic responsibilities, to help the Forum explore partnerships with relevant institutions.
“Let us listen to them carefully, make decisions with them, and judge our progress by the changes they experience,” he said.