Ugandan Laws Aim to Help Physically Handicapped Take Place in Society

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Ugandan Laws Aim to Help Physically Handicapped Take Place in

Society

By Majtenyi

http://www.voanews.com/english/2007-06-26-voa38.cfm (photos at link)

The Ugandan government has taken a progressive approach to helping

the disabled by passing legislation that recognizes the rights of

the disabled, providing representation for them in Parliament and

specifying measures to enable them to be more mobile. But disabled

advocates say these measures are often not implemented in everyday

life, and people with disabilities continue to face discrimination

and other struggles. Majtenyi recently visited Uganda and

files this report for VOA.

The Kampala School for Physically Handicapped:

At the Kampala School for the Physically Handicapped, students in

the tailoring class are learning how to use sewing machines so that

they can eventually earn a living using their skills. The students

are part of a growing awareness in Uganda of the economic, political

and social rights of people living with disabilities.

The Ugandan government has been active on this front, with the

passage in 2003 of the National Council of Persons with Disabilities

Act, the Disability Act of 2006 and the creation of the National

Council of Disabilities, which monitors and evaluates government

activities and programs regarding the disabled.

Handicapped students learn to use sewing machines:

Ndezi is one of five members of Parliament who represent the

rights of the disabled in the legislature.

He and his colleagues educate fellow lawmakers about the disabled

and ensure that all laws in Uganda take into account people living

with disabilities.

" For example, if we are having a law on infrastructure, we as

members of Parliament, the five of us, must ensure that this

structure is accessible to persons with disabilities, " says

Ndezi. " This law applies to all other structures that that will be

carried or constructed in this country. "

But many disabled activists say that, in practice, many of the laws

and programs are not being implemented and that a large number of

people living with disabilities are begin excluded from mainstream

society.

Francis Kinubi is chairman of the National Union of Disabled Persons

of Uganda. He gives the example of how traffic lights in Uganda are

supposed to have alarms to warn the blind, but this and other

measures do not exist in everyday life.

" Children with disabilities are not yet fully admitted in schools as

inclusive education recommends, " says Kinubi. " Children with

disabilities still have challenges, for example; accessibility to

classrooms is still a problem where there are very many stairs to

the classrooms and people with wheelchairs cannot reach them. "

Kinubi says he thinks legislative measures are not being implemented

because government bodies and civil servants are often unaware of

the laws, and also that there is not enough money in the system to

fund the initiatives.

Advocates for the disabled say that as a result of widespread

discrimination and lack of employment and schooling opportunities,

many people living with disabilities end up being among the poorest

in the country.

That is a big concern for Annet Nakanwagi, a local politician

representing the disabled in Mukono District. She says she is

particularly concerned about the plight of disabled women and

children, and that it is vital for people living with disabilities

to be able to earn an income.

" I want all the disabled children to go to school, " says

Nakanwagi. " Then next I want to see that the disabled women, also

they are well off (and) catered (for). You see, the men abuse the

disabled persons, so I want enforcement to touch on them. My vision

also (is that I want) all the disabled persons to be well located -

to join these government programs, to be well off. There are some

who can dig, go to gardens, who can do other craftwork so that they

get money. I want all the disabled persons to be well off and to get

money, not to be on the streets just begging, which is not good for

them. "

Fred Namugera, one of the founders of the Spinal Injuries

Association of Uganda:

Despite the many obstacles they face, Ugandans living with

disabilities are breaking barriers as they advocate for the rights

of the disabled. One such activist is Fred Namugera, who became

disabled as the result of a road accident. He is one of the founders

of the Spinal Injuries Association of Uganda. He describes the

reactions of his family and friends after his accident.

" When I came home after being discharged, I was discouraged by my

companion and my relatives in the sense that, somebody was working,

doing some good work, now I can no longer do anything, " says

Namugera. " They said, it's better that this man died - God was not

kind to him. So that thing really gave me, on the other hand,

courage: to know that, how really should I tell these people that

death is not better than someone who is living. "

Many people living with disabilities in Uganda face such

discrimination, but with hard work and determination are forging

ahead to build good lives for themselves and their families.