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NI-YETU project looks at PWDs inclusion in Lira

(Last Updated On: 30 June 2022)

The Constitution of Uganda 1995: Article 21 prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities (PWDs).


By Christine Awor

Lira – June 30, 2022: With Support from the NI-YETU project, Lira District Youth Advocacy Network (LIDIYANET) on Monday got refresher training on disability inclusion in their various advocacy works.

Haggard Oluma who is the projects manager NI-YETU project under Plan International Uganda said that it is of paramount importance to advocate for disability inclusion in various activities mainly. He particularly cited Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) together with Sexual Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).

Oluma further noted that this will make Persons with Disability (PWDs) feel considered and included in various activities and their rights equally respected.

“Advocacy is everywhere and for every person and this makes it everyone’s role to advocate for the inclusion of PWDs,” he continued. 

Grace Aboto is the chairperson of LIDIYANET. She said it is of great value to have such training from time to time so that it keeps fresh in the minds of many that advocacy makes no meaning when everyone is not included.

“Sometimes, we find ourselves unknowingly using offensive words towards Persons with Disability (PWDs) not knowing that they are offended, so by familiarizing ourselves with these terms, it makes our advocacy meaningful,” Aboto told the meeting.

Mathew Omara, the chairperson of the National Union of Disabled Persons in Uganda (NUDIPU) Lira branch who was one of the participants said any activity done for persons with various impairments without their inclusion is no work done.

“There’s nothing for us without us,” Omara said. According to him, health centers and other facilities should have provisions for all: like having a talking compound for those with hearing impairments, having emojis, brails, and other provisions that easily inform them on what is taking place in the facility. 

Meanwhile, Conny Adoch, the Disability Inclusion Facilitator at Light For The World noted that persons with various impairments should be reached and consulted on how they want to be handled when it comes to SGBV and SRHR so that appropriate services are rendered to them.

Adoch, who is someone with impairment, said health facilities and other facilities should be well equipped to help people of all categories.

At the end of the discussions, there were advocacy points agreed to, and as an advocacy network; all would be valid after the training. Some of the advocacy points to push for were; capacity building of health workers in various health facilities to have basic skills on sign language interpretation, having adjustable beds for PWDs; easy accessibility of the health facilities like having ramps for easy mobility, community sensitization on disability inclusion; involving PWDs in all planning levels till implementation.

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Stakeholders and officials from partner organisations during a meeting on Monday. Photo by Awor Christine.

Other ones are having a user-friendly manual for them, disability inclusion in SGBV and capacity building; sensitization in referral pathways and policies, community dialogue, and involvement in the fight against SGBV and SRHR.

Governmental support for people with disabilities 

The government of Uganda has adopted several laws and policies about people with disabilities including their right to productive and decent work and basic services. The main ones are listed below:

The Constitution of Uganda 1995: Article 21 prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities. Uganda is one of the few countries in the world to recognize sign language in its Constitution.

An estimated 4.5million people [12.4%] of the Ugandan population live with some form of disability according to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) report.

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