The Minister of State for Disability Affairs, Hellen Grace Asamo, has applauded the government of Uganda for setting up different initiatives to uplift and promote Persons With Disabilities (PWDs).
While addressing the media on Monday, November 25, 2024, at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala, Asamo said that Uganda has made great progress towards the realization of the rights and well-being of PWDs.
“We have made great progress in economic empowerment, health and disability inclusion, education, and access to information, among other things,” she said.
Asamo noted that in the area of economic empowerment, the government has earmarked 10% of the Parish Development Model funds for PWDs, whereas in the education sector, the government has continued to promote the inclusion of learners with disabilities through offering scholarships in higher institutions of learning with 64 slots for both females and males given every academic year.
The minister further highlighted that in terms of access to information, there are reforms on disability inclusion, including brailing of the constitution and other policy documents, brailing of the Bible in partnership with the Church of Uganda, inclusion of sign language interpreters by media houses during prime news, and drafting of the Disability Inclusion Rules for Courts of Law, among others.
Nonetheless, Paul Katiisa, a member of the National Union of Disabled Persons in Uganda, said the government has put up many programs to support PWDs; however, there is a need for their affirmative action, while the general public needs more sensitization on the inclusion of PWDs.
“We still have challenges with access to many places, as most public areas and services do not include the needs of persons living with disabilities; many buildings do not have provisions for access for persons with physical disabilities, and this is a big challenge to many, Katiisa said.
The international day for persons with disabilities is celebrated every year on December 3, 2024, and this year’s celebrations will be held in Kumi district at Boma grounds, and the president of Uganda, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, is expected to be the chief guest.
The national theme for this year’s celebration is “Improved Household Incomes; for the Wellbeing of Persons with Disabilities.”
The theme emphasizes the importance of increasing household incomes to enhance the well-being of PWDs.
