Expert calls for disability course unit

Kampala. Joseph Tebandeke, a renowned wheelchair racer and dancer, raised his hand in anticipation. He wondered “when journalists find us in dance clubs why do they report our stories as an anomaly?” But he did not get the chance to ask his question.
Fortunately Mr Sulaiman Mayanja, an information communication technology engineer, who suffered paralysis in 2008, represented the many muted voices.
As a panellist at the first annual symposium on disability and media in Kampala at the weekend, Mr Mayanja told journalists that “they simply ignore our stories but we have incredible stories to tell.”
He also turned to his kind, the persons with disabilities (PWDS), challenging them to go to journalism schools “and be able to report on our own stories.”
Media experts at the symposium organised by the East Africa Centre on Disability Law and Policy, concurred that journalists need to be retrained and reminded of their obligation to the PWDs if the gap media-disability gap is to be bridged.
Ms Margaret Ssentamu, the executive director of Uganda Media Women’s Association, said: “It’s important for the media to appreciate that in this country there are different types of people. We all contribute and we all have the right to be heard.”
She said the core news values of objectivity, fairness and balance are emphasised in journalism schools, “but journalists need to be schooled again about the laws of our country…our professional code of ethics…”
Ms Ssentamu rated media coverage of disability at 30 per cent but said she believes they can do more.
“If we can be retrained and become more aware and deliberate, maybe by 2019 we can move to 50 per cent…it is a process.”
“But it is very expensive…and journalists are not going to stay at your station forever…when a new lot comes in, you must train them as well,” she said.
She called for the need to include disability course unit in journalism curriculum.
But Dr William Tayebwa, the head of Makerere University School of journalism, challenged this as “unrealistic,” saying all other minorities will ask for the same.
“A course unit on disability is almost impossible. What we offer is a course unit about human rights and human rights of minorities,” Mr Tayebwa said.