KUMI DISTRICT: President Museveni has reiterated the government commitment to champion interests of Persons with Disabilities across the country.
“Government will continue to ensure that service delivery institutions and mechanisms such as Schools, Health facilities, Offices, Polling Stations, Police Stations, Court Premises, Shopping Centers are fully accessible by all categories of Persons with Disabilities,” president Museveni said.
In his speech delivered by the Vice President Maj. (Rtd) Jessica Alupo during celebrations to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities at Boma Grounds in Kumi district, Under the theme, “Improved Household Income for the Wellbeing of Persons with Disabilities,” President Museveni told the disability fraternity that the NRM has been at the forefront of championing the interests of Persons with Disabilities, through a number of affirmative actions.
Museveni commended the organizers for choosing this theme saying it is in line with NRM’s war against poverty, at the household level.
President Museveni further told the disability movement that as government continues to address inclusion and rehabilitation needs of Persons with Disabilities, PWDs should not forget preventable conditions, adding that prevention is better that cure.
“I therefore, urge all Ugandans to adopt healthy lifestyles, such as strict adherence to antenatal care for expectant mothers, ensuring full immunization of children, responsible living for the youths,” President emphasized.
The president told the gathering that turned in big numbers, the war against poverty will not be an exception as all NRM-led struggles soon or later end in victory if all the people of Uganda listen to the advice of the NRM.
“Already, there are numerous success stories, especially in areas where the people have followed our advice, on wealth and jobs creation,” he said.
The president urged every household to select an economic enterprise in the four sectors of commercial agriculture, industries, ICT and Services arguing that this will enable the households to become creators of wealth and jobs.
Currently, the country has 38% of the homestead outside the money economy who are in the subsistence economy of working only for food.
“How can one expect to take their children to school or buy medicine and clothes for them, if they have no money? Therefore, if you want to build prosperous and stable homes, you must transition from subsistence farming to the modern money economy,” the president said.
He said government has put in place the necessary conditions to ensure the profitability of business enterprises. Which include: the good roads, electricity, peace and security; integration of the Ugandan market to the regional, African and international markets; pursing policies that favour the private sector.
He however, urged that these economic advantages, that the NRM has created, should be turned into jobs and wealth for the households, in order for this development to be meaningful.
“The Parish Development Model and the other wealth funds are aimed at increasing the number of wealth creators engaged in production, in the four sectors of: commercial agriculture, industries, services and ICT,” he said.
He called upon the leaders of Persons with Disabilities to mobilize people to embrace the government wealth creation programmes.
The president assured development partners that government recognizes their efforts to enhance a disability inclusive development agenda.
He further assured the disability fraternity that government is committed to doubling efforts in empowering Persons with Disabilities in all spheres of life, for a better future.
The president congratulated and appreciated the contributions of Persons with Disabilities towards the development of our motherland. He added that the NRM Government will continue to walk with you in all aspects, with special focus on improved household incomes.
He congratulated all the Persons with Disabilities, in Uganda, for making it to this day. “We observe the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, to recognize your contribution to the socio-economic transformation of society; and evaluate all the strategies aimed at ensuring that you lead dignified lives,” president Museveni said.
According to World Health Organisation (WHO) Report of 2023, 16% of the World’s population constitute persons PWDs and according to the UN report of 2017, there are more than 80m persons with disabilities in Africa.
The report further indicates that Africa is also home to close to 30m children with disabilities, with Uganda contributing 2m to African total figure of the children with disabilities.
In her address, the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development Betty Amongi said globally, the top five contributing factors to disability include; non-communicable diseases, injuries, chronic illnesses, malnutrition and poverty, and congenital factors.
While in Uganda, the major contributing factors to disability are pre-natal causes (congenital factors) at 19%, malaria at 10%, measles at 5%, accidents both and traffic at 7%, neonatal and post-natal causes (complications during and after) at 6%, violence including GBV at 3% among others.
Amongi stressed that there’s need for Ugandans to be role models in the health promotion campaigns for access to folic acid by expectant mothers to mitigate conditions like hydrocephalus in babies.
“We need to promote access to mosquito nets especially for pregnant women and children under five years. We need to promote appropriate vaccination for both pregnant woman and children,” Amongi said.
The minister noted that as we approach the festive season, where the country witnesses high rates of accidents, leaders should maximize messages on safe driving to mitigate this major contributing factor to disability.
The State Minister for Disability Hellen grace Asamo noted that the national special grant for persons with disabilities has cumulatively, since 2019 to date, funded 7,422 enterprise groups, with a total of 55,799 households of persons with disabilities.
The parish development model has 10% allocated to persons with disabilities and Emyooga has allocated sh30m for groups that perform well. She said this improved household incomes for many persons with disabilities.
