Kampala — MPs should wake up to fight for the rights of widows and orphans living or affected by HIV/AIDS, the deputy Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, has said.

Kadaga was touched after watching a documentary on the role of cultural leaders in promoting the rights of widows and orphans affected by HIV/AIDS.

In the documentary, Kamuli district clan leaders defend the rights of widows and orphans to inherit property and for the girls to get education.

"I will organise the screening of this documentary in Parliament so that the MPs wake up in defending the rights of widows and orphans affected by HIV/AIDS," Kadaga said.

She was speaking at the launch of a study involving cultural leaders to promote the rights of widows and orphans in Kampala on Thursday.

The study was conducted in Kamuli district by Plan Uganda in conjunction with FIDA to empower the communities, especially widows and orphans, to claim their rights.

Kadaga asked the two organisations to conduct surveys in other districts. Barbara Mutambi from Plan Uganda said local leaders were best placed to fight for the rights of vulnerable groups after being trained.

She said Kamuli was targeted because of the rampant violations of widows and orphans rights there.