NUP blames govt for failure to include PWDs in its programs
Mr Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine, the president of NUP chats with some of the Persons with Disabilities at the party headquarters in Makerere-Kavule on December 3, 2024. Photo | Courtesy of Bobi Wine X handle
What you need to know:
- Mr Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine, the president of NUP claimed the government has continued building houses that are not user-friendly to PWDs.
As Uganda joined the rest of the world to commemorate the International Day for Persons with Disabilities, the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) has blamed the ruling government for underlooking Persons With Disabilities (PWDs).
Mr Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine, the president of NUP claimed the government has continued building houses that are not user-friendly to PWDs.
“We have a government that is not sensitive to certain parts of the population, this goes in many other areas where inclusiveness is not respected, I want to remind you that among our values inclusiveness is both on the agenda so we intend to come up with policies so that we enforce it in hospitals and schools,” Mr Kyagulanyi said earlier today at their party head in Kampala.
Adding: “How can a plan be confirmed by the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) or any other relevant authority that does not cater for people living with disabilities, how can a club or bar get a license as a matter of fact, well-developed countries, countries that respect their citizens in equal measure have policies where they employ PWDs to make sure they are comfortable,” Mr Kyagulanyi wondered.
Speaking at the same event, Mr Peter Ntale, a representative of PWDs at Makerere University, who is visually impaired, faulted the building structure of the university which doesn’t cater for them including the bathrooms and residential places.
“We are indeed given halls of residential, but, unfortunately, these halls are inaccessible, take an example a student using a wheelchair is given to sleep on the fourth floor, how can he or she reach there,” Mr Ntale said.
Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) in its recent results showed that PWDs make up 5.7 per cent of the total population according to disability rights groups including the National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda (NUDIPU), this figure is far lower than the 12.4 per cent recorded in the 2014 census.
Ms Lina Zedriga, the NUP vice President of Northern Uganda advocated for the need for inclusivity in social services for PWDs.
“We want to create equal opportunities for all because any of us can get disabled,” she said.
The national celebrations for PWDs were held in Kumi District on Tuesday.
Compiled by Sylivia Namagembe, David Walugembe & Maria Jacinta Kannyange
