Minority Ethnic Groups in West Nile Want Recognition
Arua city, EOC officials join the minority ethnic group leaders for a group photo shortly after their meeting on Tuesday
ARUA. The minority ethnic groups in the West Nile sub-region have urged the Government of Uganda to consider giving special attention to their concerns.
Their leaders said they have limited voices in societies which are being dominated by other tribes.
As a result, they are facing a number of challenges ranging from low recognition in public administration regarding employment and lack of representation in Parliament.
Lendu, Kebu, Gimara, Reli, and Nubi are some of the minority ethnic groups from the West Nile sub-region of Uganda.
They possess rich cultural heritage that has been appreciated by other Ugandan communities.
But they are now complaining of marginalization which is evident in their daily lives.
“If our people can be abducted and killed for no reason just because we have no other people who can speak for us, who can then stand in for us. We know that we are the minority groups indeed, now if there is no representation in Parliament, how can our voices be heard in the right way really?” Patrick Andama, the Secretary General of the Ndrupa Kingdom (Lendu) wondered.
Speaking during a meeting in Arua city on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, cultural representatives from Obongi and Zombo districts also reported that their people experience discrimination during recruitment due to their affiliation with minority ethnic groups.
Ismail Aloro, a member of Reli Clan in Obongi district, confirmed that some of them are being marginalized, especially during job interviews.
“When you are called for interviews, they ask what your name is and when you say, Aloro, they immediately put a star on your name. You will not succeed in getting that job because you don’t find Reli and Gimara languages in those offices,” Aloro said.
However, Petwa Babirye, the Principal Training Officer at the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC), promised that the grievances expressed by these ethnic minority groups will be taken into account so as to advocate for policy reforms that can favor maximum inclusion of marginalized societies.
According to the commission, government programs such as the Parish Development Model should not exacerbate the marginalization of these communities because they are also citizens of Uganda.
Arua City Mayor, Sam Wadri Nyakua, challenged the ethnic minority groups to educate their children so that they can find space to voice their concerns in public.