Uganda’s President, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, has urged all Ugandans to adopt healthy lifestyles to reduce the risk of preventable disabilities.
The President’s message was delivered by Vice President Jessica Alupo at the International Day of Persons with Disabilities event, held at Kumi Boma Grounds.
This year’s theme focused on Improved Household Income for the Well-being of Persons with Disabilities, a timely subject in light of the ongoing push for inclusive economic growth and social integration.
In his message, President Museveni emphasized the importance of preventing certain disabilities through proactive health measures.
While the government has made significant strides in inclusion and rehabilitation for persons with disabilities, Museveni stressed that the focus should also be on addressing preventable conditions that contribute to disability rates.
“Prevention is better than cure,” President Museveni’s message stated.
He appealed to Ugandans to embrace healthier lifestyles that promote long-term well-being, including the adherence to antenatal care for expectant mothers, ensuring that children are fully immunized, and promoting responsible living among the youth.
These measures, according to the President, are essential for mitigating some of the preventable categories of disabilities, such as those caused by poor prenatal care, malnutrition, and neglect of childhood immunization programs.
By improving health outcomes at the community level, Uganda can reduce the prevalence of avoidable disabilities and enhance the quality of life for its citizens.
The President’s message also reinforced Uganda’s commitment to improving the accessibility of public spaces for persons with disabilities.
Museveni assured the gathering that the government will continue working towards ensuring that all service delivery institutions, such as schools, health facilities, government offices, polling stations, courts, and shopping centers, are fully accessible to people with disabilities.
This, he emphasized, is a fundamental part of ensuring that persons with disabilities can fully participate in Uganda’s social, economic, and political life.
“The government will ensure that institutions such as schools and health facilities are accessible by all categories of persons with disabilities,” Museveni’s message stated.
This is in line with Uganda’s broader goal of making the country more inclusive and supportive of its disabled citizens, thus ensuring equal opportunities for all.
The President also tied this message to the National Resistance Movement’s (NRM) overarching strategy of poverty alleviation.
He urged Ugandans, especially those with disabilities, to become active participants in the nation’s economic transformation by engaging in economic activities in sectors such as agriculture, commerce, industry, ICT, and services.
He pointed out that currently, 38% of Ugandan households still operate within a subsistence economy, which limits their ability to achieve financial independence and access essential services like education and healthcare.
“To build prosperous homes, we must transition from subsistence farming to a modern money economy,” Museveni stated.
This shift, he explained, would allow families to become wealth creators and job providers, ultimately improving their quality of life and providing for their children’s education and health needs.
Uganda’s Minister of Gender, Labour, and Social Development, Betty Amongi, highlighted the government’s continued commitment to protecting and promoting the rights of persons with disabilities.
Amongi acknowledged that although Uganda has made significant progress in the field of disability rights, much work remains to be done, especially in rural areas where misconceptions about disability still persist.
“Globally, about 16% of the population lives with a disability, and in Uganda, we have approximately 5 million people with various forms of disability,” Amongi explained.
She stressed that many rural communities still associate disability with witchcraft or spiritual causes, leading people to avoid medical treatment in favor of traditional practices.
This misinformation, she argued, hinders efforts to address the root causes of disability and provides a significant barrier to social integration for persons with disabilities.
Amongi called for continued education and awareness campaigns to dispel myths surrounding disability and to guide affected individuals toward proper healthcare and rehabilitation services.
She also noted that preventable causes of disability, such as non-communicable diseases, injuries, malnutrition, and poverty, remain widespread in Uganda.
“Disability is a global issue, and many of its contributors are preventable,” she said. “These include non-communicable diseases, chronic illnesses, injuries, malnutrition, and the effects of poverty.”
The British High Commissioner to Uganda, Lisa Chesney MBE, also highlighted the importance of global solidarity in addressing the needs of persons with disabilities.
Chesney pointed out that 1.3 billion people worldwide live with a disability, which is roughly 16% of the global population.
In Uganda, over 5 million people live with some form of disability, facing more barriers to equal participation in society than their non-disabled peers.
“People with disabilities are less likely to find employment or complete their education,” said Chesney.
“They are more likely to experience poverty, poor health outcomes, and face violence, stigma, and discrimination on a daily basis.”
Despite these challenges, Chesney emphasized that empowering persons with disabilities and including them in community activities promotes prosperity for all.
The British High Commissioner also praised the Ugandan government for its efforts to support persons with disabilities, particularly the introduction of a special grant aimed at improving the livelihoods of disabled individuals and their households.
“This initiative has already made a significant difference in the lives of many Ugandans,” Chesney said, highlighting the importance of continued investment in inclusive policies and programs.
Laura Criado, Program Coordinator for Gender and Youth at UNFPA Uganda, called for continued advocacy and investment in the rights of persons with disabilities, especially in the upcoming National Development Plan (NDP-4).
According to Criado, Uganda needs to invest approximately $900 million across 18 programs within NDP-4 to ensure that persons with disabilities can fully realize their rights.
She explained that persons with disabilities are twice as likely to live in poverty compared to their non-disabled peers, and without adequate income and access to healthcare, education, and critical services, these inequalities will continue to persist.
Criado emphasized that achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 would require a concerted effort from both the government and international partners to address these challenges.
“Without adequate support, people with disabilities will continue to face barriers that prevent them from reaching their full potential,” she said.
“We must ensure that the necessary investments are made to enable them to thrive and contribute meaningfully to society.”
Andrew Joseph Koluo, a Member of Parliament for Toroma County and a member of the Parliamentary Forum on Persons with Disabilities, also took the opportunity to call on the government to support existing institutions that cater to persons with disabilities.
Koluo emphasized the need for additional resources to support people with disabilities, especially in northern and eastern Uganda, regions that were severely affected by previous wars.
“We appeal to the government and our partners to support MPs with assistive devices like wheelchairs, crutches, and scooters,” Koluo urged.
He also called for affirmative action for qualified persons with disabilities in terms of employment, stressing that greater inclusion in the workforce is essential for their economic empowerment.
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