Parliament of Uganda – Prime Time Communications

Out to Lunch

#OutToLunch: Scarcity of adult diapers exposes the need for research before imposition of taxes

By Denis Jjuuko If you take care of an elderly person in Uganda today, there are many challenges that you face. You may have to quit your job to look after an elderly person and there is no pay for that or you may have to get the services of a live-in nurse. Both options are expensive and almost out of reach for the majority of people. So the elderly who usually don’t have sufficient sources of income live lives devoid of dignity, many sometimes scavenging for meals and other things that they need in their lives. The politicians who claim to represent the citizens are largely out of touch. The example of the diapers the elderly require to live decent lives is a case in point. Last year, Parliament approved taxes on diapers. The Members of Parliament voted with unprecedented euphoria with many arguing that they were doing so to stop homosexuals from using them. There was no data presented to prove that the majority of adult diapers were being used by homosexuals. But nothing unites politicians in Uganda than homosexuality! Anyone who argued otherwise was labelled a supporter of homosexuality or to having been paid by the “imperialists” in western capitals to corrupt the mind of Ugandans. If you are in care today of an elderly person today, you would have noticed that you are spending a lot of time moving from one shop in Kikuubo to another in search of adult diapers. With increment in taxes, the traders who were stocking them have moved on to more profitable products or closed their businesses all together. Those who bring them increased the costs to cater for the increased taxes but they are also bringing in smaller sizes and somewhat inferior qualities than before the taxes were slapped on them. Those who haven’t moved on, are doing what they are doing to keep their businesses open. Who would blame them? A diaper a size too small is not only uncomfortable, it is also said to lead to bed sores. If you have ever looked after a sick person, bed sores are some of the most painful and stubborn things to treat. Caregivers want to do anything in the world to avoid them but small size diapers the elderly are using today are going to creating a massive healthcare problem. And to make it worse, the traders aren’t bringing in enough quantities. Today, diapers for the elderly are for booking by paying in advance and you can’t be certain when they will bring them in. For some traders, they don’t even allow you to book a lot so that everyone gets some. Of course, the war in the Middle East may also be responsible for delayed shipping of containers but the major reasons Kikuubo traders attribute to the scarcity of adult diapers is the increment in taxes. Who ever knew that because of our lack of research before we increase taxes, the elderly who are lucky enough to afford pampers will have to use ones that are rationed? But that is where we are. Today, those who take care of the elderly are spending more money on shoes as they develop holes in the soles as they look for pampers instead of looking for money to buy them and pay for fees for medical consultancy and prescribed drugs. I think parliament has the power to correct the mistake they made when they argued that adult pampers were promoting homosexuality because some of them realized their mistakes. I remember seeing a clip where a Member of Parliament after failing to secure diapers for her mother admitted to having voted to pass the adult diaper law in error. Since to err is human, we shouldn’t blame the MPs when they admit their mistake and go ahead and correct them. Because that is the right thing to do. But also, such glaring mistakes are avoidable by parliament and all arms of government by being informed by data instead of emotions before making key decisions. It should not be so difficult for the research arm of parliament to find out who buys more adult diapers and for what purpose. The ministries of finance, gender, and health should have this information too. But the right thing to ensure the elderly live with dignity is to remove the increased taxes on diapers while also supporting local manufacturers to make them here. The writer is a communication and visibility consultant. djjuuko@gmail.com

November 7, 2024

Out to Lunch

#OutToLunch Parliament, graduation and the opportunity for entrepreneurship

By Denis Jjuuko Last month, newly elected Members of Parliament took the oath of office at the parliamentary building in Kampala. Save for the elbowing co-wives and the clown from Arua, there wasn’t so much else. The majority of MPs and their relatives were elegantly dressed and they rocked the red carpet in the way it should be. I hope that the quality of debate will be as elegant as the dresses. However, something else caught my eye. Many of the MPs turned up with children below the age of 10. Since many of these MPs didn’t look like grandparents, I will assume that these were their offspring. The spectacle at parliament reminded me of some statistics that were being widely shared before MPs took oath. A recent population projections report by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) showed that 56.7% of Uganda’s population is below the age of 20. While those between the age of 20 to 29 represent 17.8% of the population. The MPs themselves largely fall in the age group between 30 and 50, which is 17.7%. No wonder many turned up with their offspring toddlers. Given that many of the MPs will see a significant increment in their monthly income over the next five years, many will be giving birth to a few more children. Besides MPs taking the oath, my social media timelines were filled with beautiful photos of young people in celebratory mood having been awarded academic certificates at the latest graduation ceremony at Makerere University — the country’s premium academic institution. Most of these young people are looking forward to a future that can enable them live the lives that they have been promised — study hard, graduate and everything will be fine. It used to be fine in the 1960s and 1970s. Today, these young people need more than academic certificates. The beauty though is that many of them will try as much as possible to get themselves where they want to be whether as maids in the Middle East, boda boda riders in Kampala or part of the government bureaucracy. Some obviously will end up as MPs. A young population as Uganda brings many challenges for the legislature and executive as they must find the jobs for those graduating and services such as education and healthcare for the children. This doesn’t mean that those who are above 50 should be ignored. MPs must not just look at themselves as they have largely done before. They were elected by young people to represent them and it is incumbent on them to think about the country first as the oath they took implied. They should also not forget that over the last few elections, the majority of MPs aren’t re-elected. The chances of being one-term MPs are high. As the arms of government grapple with those challenges, these statistics present opportunities for entrepreneurship. I know that the majority of the population live in abject poverty but there is a number that could afford certain services if priced right. Entrepreneurs should think about services that can attract this population group because 80.7% of the population is below the age of 35. If you started a business today, you can find affordable labour that is easy to skill given the number of people graduating. This can be a springboard for profitability and future growth. Government can use the numbers to attract foreign direct investment. Those interested in long term investments could think of the category that was graduating last week (age 20-29). As these people find the elusive jobs, they will most likely start by “dusting themselves” of poverty. They will go for expensive brands to show that they have arrived. Entertainment will boom and there will be little left for investment. The time for seriously thinking about investment will come when they are about 35 and above. When they have children of their own and some dreams long discarded as reality checks in. If you, therefore, invest in stuff that the middle class will need in 10 years, you will make a killing if you are a long term investor. Sectors such as housing, education, and transport will be necessary as these people become middle class. As they become middle class, another group between 40 and 60 which is 10.8% of the population will be either retired or retiring. They will have some retirement benefits that as an entrepreneur you may tap in. The writer is a communication and visibility consultant. djjuuko@gmail.com

August 23, 2021