Disability Rights 11: Right to access information

In addition to the human rights laws in the Constitution of Uganda there are several other rights granted to persons with disabilities (PWDs). These rights are given by law in the Persons With Disabilities Act 2006 (PWDA) which is modeled on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Whether you are a PWD or not, these laws apply to you.

Section 21 of the PWDA states that it is the duty of Government departments to inform PWDs how they can access information that will benefit them. Information should be available in accessible forms like sign language and braille. It will be the responsibility of persons who own TV stations to present at least 1 major news cast with signing every day. Telephone companies should provide telephones for the hearing impaired.

Every citizen is entitled to access information held by the government (see Know Your Rights 22: The right to information). The information that the government holds is available to you by law under The Access to Information Act 2005. If you are a PWD, the Act says that:

• Requests for information should be in writing but PWDs that are unable to write can request information orally.
• If a person is unable to read, hear or view the information because of their disability the officer receiving the request must take reasonable steps to make the document available. 
• If a document is not available in the correct format for the PWD the department must supply a copy in a reasonable amount of time unless the copy is outrageously expensive compared to the information required.
• A PWD can request the information in an alternative format at no extra cost.

Victor Locoro (above) of the Uganda: The Braille production unit which produces small amounts of Braille for "primary and secondary schools; ministries of education, science, technology and sports; as well as civil society organisations."

This law is written like this in section 21 of the Persons With Disabilities Act 2006:

21. Access to information 

(1) It shall be the duty of the responsible Government authority 'to promote the rights of persons with disabilities to access information

(a) the development and use of sign language, tactile, sign language interpreters, in all public institutions and at public functions

(b) brailing of public information, such as Government documents, government newspapers and other publication.

(2) Any person who owns a—

(a) a television station shall provide sign language inset or subtitles in at least one major news cast program each day and in all special programs of national significance;

(b) a telephone company, shall provide special telephone devices for the hearing-impaired.