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Abenaitwe's struggle for dignity, rights, and equal access for people with disabilities

Lydia Abenaitwe, a human resource professional

What you need to know:

  • Ms Abenaitwe says many have reached out to her regarding the humiliations they have suffered in the face of getting what has been accorded them. That is not forgetting the bribes that many are asked for with the thinking that since they have been given an exemption, the URA officials should also get a cut. 

Lydia Abenaitwe, a human resource professional, has lived with a disability since childhood having contracted polio as a child. 
She believes in the notion that one’s disability does not stop one from having dreams and aspirations or achieving them. 

“All I need is a barrier-free environment, people believing in my abilities and giving me a chance. I also need legislation that supports all that I can be as an individual to reach my fullest potential,” she says. 
Ms Abenaitwe, the programme officer-inclusive employment at Light for the World, however, condemns parents of children with disabilities who hide them, saying God does not make mistakes. 

“The fact that you have that child means that God had confidence that you would take care of that child and enable them to reach their fullest potential. Moreover, as is the popular saying, people with disabilities are compensated with other special skills. Therefore, hiding that child or disregarding them means you will miss out on that uniqueness,” she says. 

Reminiscing on her childhood, Ms Abenaitwe says it was only after her mother took a trip to Mulago Hospital to help her get small callipers and saw those with severe impairments that she appreciated her as her child. 
On the flip side, her father always reminded her that her future was in a pen. That played a big role in helping her stay in school, as she had faced a lot of discrimination. For instance, in her S2, she and two other friends were making noise, and while the other two were punished, Abenaitwe was left with the teacher saying there was no future for her. 
“That greatly demotivated me, and my grades showed. That is why my father had to remind me of where my future lay,” she says. 

Adding, “Parents have to empower their children with disabilities so they understand their potential and rights. It will also build their resilience and esteem because the world is harsh and we fight even for the opportunities that have been accorded to us.” 
Speaking about laws, Ms Abenaitwe says Uganda’s laws are well crafted but lack implementation. “They do not bite and lack follow-up. Without punitive measures for people who violate the laws, even in the case of persons with disabilities, the efforts of, say, development partners and PWD CSOs will be sabotaged,” she says. 

In that regard, Ms Abenaitwe says one of the tough things about being a PWD is transport, yet it is crucial. For instance, a taxi will leave one using a wheelchair on the roadside. The argument is they will need more space to tie the wheelchair, and it will take too much time to carry you into the taxi. 

“Moving from one place to the next is a universal right of every person. Moreover, you cannot have a productive life if you can't move from one place to another yet PWDs already have limited economic opportunities,” she says. 
Getting a car also helps to maintain their dignity. How dignified is it for strange men to carry you whenever you need to use a taxi? “Owning a car eases that because, for so long, I chose to reduce my movements because I lacked a car,” she says. 

However, she opted to get a car upon getting a job that required movement lest she lose it pushing her to get a salary loan. However, she did not know of the exemptions availed to PWDs. That is another issue because many PWDs do not know about these as they are not publicized. 
Thankfully, by the time she was buying the second car, she had learned of these rights. Additionally, the process was smooth, save the requirement for modification. 

“That requirement was a must, even when I did not need it because I can manage the pedals with my right leg. But with a desperate need for the car, I made a few modifications and in two days, all was well. However, one wonders, should I modify, even when I do not need it?” she asks, “URA is interested in modifications at the pedals and steering wheel. How about where the disabled person needs a driver or when the needed modification is a ramp for one to easily get into the car with a wheelchair? Will they be denied the exemptions?” 

It should be noted that before one applies for this exemption, they should have a verification from the National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda that they are disabled. They also need a bank statement to attest that you can facilitate the purchase. “This requirement is so bizarre because what happens when someone funds the purchase of the vehicle for one with disabilities?” 
However, complexities came when her car developed complications as she could not work with it owing to her limitations in dealing with the faults when they arose. She sought to sell it only to learn the problems that come with selling a tax-free car. 
“Why is such information scanty and scarce? That process was such as pain, guessing a lot along the way,” she says. 

However, a lot more trouble awaited her as she purchased the next car because many processes had changed, making the acquisition tougher. That is not forgetting being tossed around by URA officials and the laborious climb to the third floor to reach the URA tax exemption office.
At this point, the parking fees in the bond were increasing, and she had to hire a car to take her to work and back. Moreover, the modifications Ms Abenaitwe made were deemed to be of poor quality. 

“There was a lot of confusion and argument with URA officials, and I was left wondering how they would determine what my disability needs, yet I am the user. Unfortunately, with the immense back and forth, the matter ended up on social media and only then was URA compelled to grant me the tax exemption,” she says. 

Ms Abenaitwe says many have reached out to her regarding the humiliations they have suffered in the face of getting what has been accorded them. That is not forgetting the bribes that many are asked for with the thinking that since they have been given an exemption, the URA officials should also get a cut. 
“Looking at Kenya, where tax exemptions are given to all people with disabilities, my cry is that there will be a push to let us enjoy the few privileges the law has given us to enjoy life,” she says.