Last week, NUDIPU, with other partners, officially participated in the national launch of the Collective Action for Disability Rights project in Uganda with support from the Norwegian Association of the Disabled (NAD).
As shared by the NAD country Director, Edson Ngirabakunzi, for the next five years, the launched project will focus on:
➡️ Social Economic Empowerment
➡️Human Rights and Organizational Development
➡️Inclusive Education
➡️Health and Rehabilitation were the key focus, is going to be on mental health. A silent problem disturbing many people, and some may not be aware.
For NUDIPU for the next five years under this project, all our efforts will be geared towards Social Economic Empowerment, Inclusive Education, Human Rights, and Organization Development and Inclusive Climate Change Adaptation, shared CEO Esther Kyozira.
The overall outcome of the project, as shared by the NAD coordinator of the CADiR project, SANDRA ASIZU, is to:
➡️Influence individuals, caregivers, and families with persons with disabilities by empowering them to advocate for their rights
➡️Strengthen Knowledge management for Organizations of Persons with disabilities on issues concerning Disability inclusion
➡️Strengthen systems both at the national and local levels to mainstream disability inclusion.
➡️Train duty bearers on the importance of disability inclusion.
Inclusive Climate Change and Adaptation.
According to the Commissioner Patrick Mugisha, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, it’s now time for persons with disabilities to think of venturing into assistive technologies and into manufacturing as well. These are areas that can create impact and support some of people with disabilities. Alternatively, this can be one of their agendas to demand from the government to create industries to supply assistive devices at a cheaper cost.
He also encouraged persons with disabilities to embrace forming SACCOs to ease financial challenges and be part of the financial sector, which may, in turn, trigger investment among persons with disabilities on a bigger scale once they come together.
“It’s time persons with disabilities demanded accountability from duty bearers as far as including persons with disabilities in government programmes is concerned,” shared Prosper Byonanebye Muhummuza, Commissioner of Disability and the elderly, who delivered a keynote speech on behalf of the Minister of Disability Affairs, Hellen Grace Asamo.
It’s time to hold duty bearers accountable for not deliberately thinking about persons with disabilities.
