news 13 June 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Kadaga Expresses Frustration Over Government Delays in Sunscreen Procurement for Albinism Community
First Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca Kadaga has voiced strong disappointment over persistent bureaucratic delays by government agencies, specifically the Uganda Revenue Authority and Ministry of Finance, in procuring essential sunscreen lotions for individuals with albinism. She emphasized that these are life-saving medicines, not cosmetic items. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/kadaga-slams-govt-agencies-over-delays-on-sunscreen-for-persons-with-albinism-5495528
Rebecca Kadaga, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs, has publicly expressed her deep frustration and sense of betrayal regarding the slow pace of government agencies in facilitating the procurement of sunscreen lotions for persons with albinism. These lotions are crucial for preventing skin damage and skin cancer.
Speaking at the International Albinism Awareness Day celebrations in Kamuli, under the theme “Proudly My Skin: Celebrating All Skin Tones,” Kadaga directly criticized the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and the Ministry of Finance for their perceived unyielding stance, despite sunscreen being recognized on the World Health Organization’s 2025 Model List of Essential Medicines.
“I need to make it clear my disappointment, frustration and betrayal that URA and the Ministry of Finance have adamantly refused to provide skin creams for persons with albinism as essential medicines, not cosmetics,” Kadaga stated. She called for the establishment of robust policy and financing frameworks to ensure these essential items are consistently available in public health facilities.
Kadaga suggested that future commemorations of this day should involve officials from the URA and Ministry of Finance directly engaging with the albinism community to better understand their needs. She reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting international and national frameworks that promote the dignity, equality, and inclusion of persons with albinism, including provisions within the Persons with Disabilities Act.
During the event, Kamuli District Chairperson Kaloli Dhizaala pledged to prioritize inclusivity in job recruitments, offering priority to persons with albinism and disabilities. Peter Ogik, Executive Director of the Source of the Nile Union for Persons with Albinism (SNUPA), highlighted ongoing discrimination, myths, and security risks faced by the community. He urged the government to fully implement sunscreen supply as essential medicine and to review the expired National Action Plan for Persons with Albinism to address critical health, security, and social justice concerns.
This article is based on information from the Daily Monitor.