KAMPALA – Speaker Rebecca Kadaga has instructed Parliament’s Committee on Health to process and present for consideration during this current session, a Bill on national medical insurance.
Government, said Kadaga, has been asked by Parliament to present such legislation for now fifteen years, to no avail, prompting the current decision.
Kadaga, who was in Kabarole on Saturday to receive a petition from the Kabarole District Elders’ Council, said the medical insurance scheme to be legislated will take into account the concerns raised by the elders, on the need to have them exempted from making periodic payments to enroll for the scheme.
The elders, said their Chairperson Amos Manyira, are poor and cannot afford to make the contributions, and that they need to be given affirmative action in that regard.
Kadaga was hosted by Kabarole Woman MP Sylvia Rwabwogo and Fort Portal Municipality MP Alex Ruhundo, among other leaders.
She also launched a Sacco run by the elders’ association, and contributed Shs5 million.
Kadaga criticized government for the delayed presentation of electoral reforms, which she said could factor in concerns by the elders that they should have special representation in Parliament.
Kadaga promised to ask the Committee on Budget to consider the possibility of including a special revolving fund to from which the senior citizens can borrow, following their complaint that microfinance institutions shy away from lending them on account of their advanced age.