Comment 23 for bug 426675

The problem is not completely fixed for the mouse either:

In fact, it is possible to switch to a left-handed mouse by using the corresponding setting in the mouse control panel and it works. However it does not work if you use the gconf-editor to activate the left-handed gconf key. If you set the mouse to left-handed by using the corresponding gconf key, you can see the setting in the mouse control panel reflecting the change, but the mouse does not behave as a left-handed mouse: for example a click with the left mouse button does not show the contextual menu.

I do not know whether it is related to the problem with the touchpad.