Country strategy

Disability situation in Uganda

Since 1986, the disability movement in Uganda has experienced dramatic growth partly because of the positive political environment which has ensured an opportunity for representation of the interests of PWDs at various levels of governance. The affirmative action accorded to the disability fraternity has led to the creation of a Ministry of State for Disability Affairs and other specialised departments such as the Department of Special Needs Education within the Ministry of Education and Sports. The strategy has indeed given PWDs in Uganda unique opportunities to influence the enactment and development of policies such as the disability policy, the PEAP, the Persons with Disabilities Act, the Council for Disability and many others.

DPOD's focus areas in Uganda

There is a need to consolidate the achievements of the disability movement and to transform the current goodwill and opportunities into deliverable programmes that can benefit the PWDs especially at the grassroots. Furthermore inter-ministerial / institutional and sector co-ordination needs to be formalised in order to make it independent of individuals. PWDs in decision-making organs and in the disability organisations need capacity (human as well as financial) in order to address disability issues in a co-ordinated and strategic manner and to advice and monitor according to implementation plans/programmes. Particular at district levels there is a need for civic education of PWDs and for sensitisation of the civil service. Based on the situation analysis the key focus areas of work for DPOD funded programme are identified as:

Promoting Rights Based Approaches
Capacity Building for DPOs
Initiatives for Children and Youth with Disabilities
Increasing Sharing of Disability Information
Employment for PWDs

Country strategy

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