7-8 December 2021(Karamoja) Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) have recounted how they were marginalized and excluded from the planning processes of the COVID-19 response programs nor and how they did not benefit from COVID-19 program packages. Many could not access medical services, and other social and economic services during the pandemic. This was revealed by the Executive Director of the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD), Beatrice Guzu, at a consultative forum for the formulation of Uganda’s Disability Status report, which took place at Mount Moroto Hotel in Karamoja from 7 to 8 December 2021. The consultations were jointly organized by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Uganda in partnership with the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MGLSD) and the NCPD. The countrywide consultations were aimed at gathering information for the country’s report on the Disability Status in preparation for the CRPD Review in October 2022.
In her opening remarks, Ms Beatrice Guzu expressed gratitude to OHCHR for the consistent financial and technical support to enable the interaction and the consolidation of views on the progress that Uganda has made towards the implementation of the Concluding Observations and recommendations from the initial report in 2016. She noted that, because the development of the upcoming Country Status Report combines three reports, it was imperative to widely engage with persons with disabilities on the grassroots levels.
She however, said that corruption from some sections of the Justice, Law and Order Sector (JLOS) institutions denied them access to justice, and this caused increased abuse and trauma for PWDs. In general, PWDs have no access to ICT services and facilities due to limited resources and little education. Although the government has put in place several programmes aimed at inclusive access, PWDs remain marginalized. They are not fully aware of programs, they have limited education, inadequate financial resources, and limited communication mechanisms favourable for persons with disabilities such as lack of friendly Information, Education and Communication materials, language interpreters, among others hinder PWDs from living and enjoying a dignified life compared to other citizens.
The chairperson of Moroto District challenged the participants to evaluate how prepared PWDs were for the Parish Development Model (PDM) - a new Government strategy that implies the availability of funds for everyone. “I urge Persons with Disabilities to take personal responsibility, develop self-esteem and assertiveness to demand services as this will make them acquire acknowledgement that they are able, and not vulnerable,” David Koryang said.
The consultative meeting was attended by 23 (13 males and 8 female) representatives of persons with disabilities and District local government staff from Karamoja sub region.