The National Unity Platform (NUP) has blamed Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) for issuing operational licenses to buildings without access facilities for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs).
Today December 3rd Uganda has joined the rest of the world to commemorate the International Day for PWDs under the theme; “U clocking Potential: Inclusive leadership for a barrier Free Future”.
The Party President Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu while addressing journalists during the party celebration of the day on Tuesday disclosed that licensing construction works and buildings in Kampala without access for PWDs denies them opportunities to reach the relevant offices for service delivery.
Kyagulanyi challenged the Government to put in place policies that respect the rights of the special interest groups including PWDs because they are Ugandans who must enjoy all privileges.
Kyagulanyi also challenged parents with children with disabilities not to ignore them because disability is not inability.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Party (DP) Persons with Disability League has lashed out at the Government over continued poor limited access for PWDs to healthcare and social support.
While addressing journalists at the DP offices at Balintuma Road in Lubaga, Maxensia Takirambule Nakibuuka, the National Secretary for the DP PWDs’ League disclosed that health centers still don’t have facilities supporting PWDs to access health centers which have hindered them to go to health centers.
Nakibuuka says it’s unfortunate that over 80% of PWDs live on less than shs 8,000 per day; many face extreme poverty, limited access to education and employment opportunities which perpetuates their marginalization.
She is dismayed over the absence of accurate and comprehensive data on prevalence of disability which also continues to hinder effective planning and service delivery.
She calls upon the Government to train Government staff on disability inclusion to improve early identification and assessment of PWDs.
By Charles Katabalwa
3 Dec 2024
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