Introduction

Globally 1.3 billion people in the world experience significant disability (World Health Organization (WHO), 2023) with 80% of persons with disabilities (PWDs) living in developing countries. An estimated 60-80 million of them live in Africa (Venderschuren & Obira, 2021). There are 4.5 million PWDs in Uganda and other parts of the country have higher disability prevalence than others. These differences in PWDs numbers was created by war, civil unrest and sickness causing blindness. The Northern and Eastern parts of the country have higher disability prevalence rate (Smith et al.,, 2017) and it constitutes 50% of the total PWDs population with the North and East having 1.01 and 1.3 million PWDs respectively(Budget Monitoring and Accountability Unit(BMAU),2019).

The Government of Uganda (GoU) through its Constitution stated in Article 35 that PWDs have the right to respect and human dignity and both the GoU and its society should take appropriate measures to ensure that PWDs realize their full mental and physical potential. The GoU is in full support of enacting laws and policies to address PWDs concerns and with this, the Persons with Disabilities Act was enacted in 2020.

The GoU recognizes PWDs as individual with long term physical, mental and intellectual or sensory impairment which when interacting with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on equal basis with others. In Uganda disability is defined as a substantial limitation of a person’s daily life activities caused by physical, mental or sensory impairment and environment barriers resulting in limited participation in society on equal basis with others (Persons with Disabilities Act, 2020).

The GoU has categorized disability as physical, hearing, visual, deaf and blind, mental (psychoactive and learning) and multiple. Little persons and persons with albinism are also included under the disability category (Persons with Disabilities Act, 2020).

The GoU provides quotas for representatives of PWDs at both local and national level of governance. There are 5 representatives for PWDs in the Parliament of Uganda and they are responsible for raising issues concerning PWDs. In Each Parliament since 1996 this representatives formed a group called “Uganda Parliamentary Group for PWDs”. Although this group has existed this long they had challenges in collective bargain and support from other MPs in issues affecting PWDs. Therefore there was little involvement of other MPs without disability in addressing PWDs concerns prior to the establishment of Uganda Parliamentary Forum for Persons with Disabilities (UPFPWDs) in 2022 in the 11^th Parliament. UPFPWDs allows all MPs who have the conviction and commitments to promote the right of PWDs to become its members. UPFPWDs have MPs from various districts in Uganda and through its members it has the capability to reach PWDs and identify PWDs concerns in most areas of the country.

Challenges Faced By PWDs

Although the GoU is committed to mainstreaming disability in development through promoting effective participation, engagement and inclusion PWDs, in Uganda PWDs still face various challenges including but not limited to difficulty in accessing services (health, education, governance, employment, skills development, rehabilitation and transportation),  inadequate funding of PWDs programmes, violation of rights, abuse and violence, discrimination, exclusion and stigmatization, inadequate availability of assistive devices, climate change and high cost of living (food, clothing, shelter, health, education and transport). Education, health and transport costs are further exacerbated by the impairment level.

Roles of UPFPWDs in Addressing PWDs Challenges in Uganda

UPFPWDs is committed to ensuring that PWDs are empowered in Uganda through advocating for their welfare and rights. UPFPWDs also promotes full participation of PWDs in all legislative and policy making processes and its contribution to addressing PWDs challenges are explained below:-

 Awareness Creation on the Well-being of PWDs

UPFPWDs is actively involved in raising awareness on the situation of PWDs and emerging developments for the benefits of  PWDs at local and national level. At national level UPFPWDs mainly targets Members of Parliament (MPs), Government Ministries and Agencies and development partners. Before MPs become UPFPWDs members, they are sensitize about the importance in being involve in promoting PWDs well-being. UPFPWDs members then create awareness in various parts of the country during their engagement with local community members. Awareness creation on the importance of PWDs inclusion at local level is also conducted by UPFPWDs staff.

Figure 1: UPFPWDs Members and SHA-U Beneficiaries and Staff during UPFPWDs Launch in September, 2023

Promotion of Political Will

UPFPWDs plays a critical role in actively involving MPs in addressing PWDs challenges with the GoU and development partners. Various stakeholders work with UPFPWDs members and their mobilization to actively participate is done by UPFPWDs staff. The mobilization and promotion of MPs’ participation in full inclusion of PWDs in all sectors of the economy is vital in addressing PWDs challenges for their well-being.

Figure 2: UPFPWDs Members, SHA-U, NUDIPU and Uganda AIDS Commission Launching UPFPWDS in September, 2023

Influencing legislations, policies and programs for the well-being of PWDs

UPFPWDs actively monitors and promotes the implementation of PWDs policies and legislation. Existing gaps and emerging challenges in policies and legislation are identified and addressed. Legislation is regularly reviewed to ensure that PWDs well-being is always considered by all stakeholders. Advocacy is conducted to ensure that PWDs in communities and institutions are protected.

Promoting Sustainable Funding of PWDs Programmes

Influencing budget and mobilizing resources through partnership building and advocacy for increase in resource allocation is an important role in increasing the funds available for PWDs. UPFPWDs works towards ensuring that there is sustainable funding to address PWDs challenges in Uganda. Various engagements have been done with stakeholders so as to mobilize resources for PWDs.

Promoting Institutional Engagement in Promoting PWDs Welfare

UPFPWDs works with different Parliamentary Committees, GoU Ministries and Agencies and development partner to identify and promote best practices in addressing PWDs concerns and identifying and addressing existing gaps and emerging challenges in policies, laws and programmes for the welfare of PWDs.

Increasing Knowledge and Skills of MPs in Sustaining Intervention Addressing PWDs Challenges

MPs are equipped with advocacy skills for engagement in enacting laws to address existing gaps. UPFPWDs members’ capacity on PWDs’ rights promotion and protection is considered vital in addressing PWDs challenges. Governance, management and coordination skills for MPs are considered in ensuring UPFPWDs sustainability.