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In Uganda 1 in 5 persons over the age of 5 years has a disability (Demographic and Health Survey 2006).

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The Disability Support Uganda Blog is taking a break

Back soon with some more exciting stories.

The Disability Support Uganda blog is taking a break.

Can you guess where I am going?

What is the use of information?

The aim of this blog is to give good information about disability in Uganda. There is often a lack of good information. I have tried to find the best information, that I hope will be useful to all persons with disabilities in Uganda.

Is the information this blog supplies useful? What do you think?

The poster says about this video:

Councillor William Mwambu (from Masindi District, Uganda) explains how a lack of accurate data on disability greatly affects the way decision makers plan, budget, allocate resources and influence policies.

Donations Page

Please take some time to check out our Donation page. You will see that a fundraising page has been setup on the Give A Little website in New Zealand. This page will raise funds for the Abilities 256 festival to celebrate the achievements and abilities of persons with disabilities in Uganda. All money raised will go directly to Disability Support Uganda (DiSU).



At time of posting $10.00 have been raised. To check the progress please look at the Donation  page.

Thank you to everyone supporting DiSU.

Introducing Disability Support Uganda

Who are Disability Support Uganda?

A short video that talks about the work DiSU does removing the stigma and prejudice of disability in all its forms.

Mental Disabilities and Mental Health in Uganda

Everyone is equal before the law regardless of their disability. People with mental disabilities in Uganda are handicapped by outmoded and derogatory language used by the legal system, inaccessible courts and inappropriate accommodation. People with mental disabilities are often seen as subhuman and are not given their rights.

An article by MDAC the Mental Disability Advocacy Centre identifies the following problems:

• The use of outdated and discriminatory terminology such as "idiot", "persons of unsound mind" and "lunatic" in court papers and processes which entrench stigma;
• People with intellectual or psycho-social disabilities are legally denied the right to bring or defend cases and their evidence is deemed to lack credibility or refused;
• Some people with disabilities cannot navigate or understand the complex processes required to initiate or defend cases, and no support is provided to them to do so;
• Rigid application of rules of procedure in a way which is likely to deny substantive access to justice;
• Imposition of court fees discourages or prohibits people from claiming their rights through the courts;
• People with disabilities have their cases taken over by guardians ad litem or other substitute decision-makers, without the need for their consent; and
• People with disabilities are arbitrarily detained during criminal procedures, sometimes left to languish for decades in detention (See UGANDA: ACCESS TO COURTS FOR PEOPLE WITH MENTAL DISABILITIES).

"They don't consider me as a person"

Uganda is a country with a population of 35 million and only 30 psychiatrists. Lack of access to treatment, poverty, stigma, discrimination and human rights abuses are major barriers for the rehabilitation of people with mental disorders. Many workers in Uganda do not want to work in psychiatry due to the stigma associated with mental illness.

The organisation BasicNeeds has been working in Uganda for over 10 years to improve the quality of life of people living with mental illnesses. Their work involves supporting access to quality community mental health services and getting people back to productive work. They target 2 types of vulnerable groups.

The first are people who suffer from a mental disorder (schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder, clinical depression, anxiety disorders etc) and the second, people who are likely to suffer from mental disorders as a result of the context they are living in (high risk categories include poor households, people directly affected by protracted conflict, included orphaned youth and former child soldiers, women and girls living in poverty, people with disabilities living in poverty). Significant effort has also gone into post-conflict programmes addressing psychosocial trauma and related deprivation and poverty in Northern Uganda, (see BasicNeeds: Where we work).

A summary of article 13 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of PWDs says: "People with disabilities have the right to effective access to justice on an equal basis with others, including through the provision of appropriate accommodations."

A World Health Organisation (2001) report says that one in four people are expected to get some kind of mental health disorder in their lifetime isn't it time we removed the stigma.

Join us at Abilities 256

Abilities 256 gives an opportunity to all PWDs in Uganda to showcase there talents and skill every year. All organized by

Disability Support Uganda.

Abilities 256 (music dance drama)

See the Facebook Event for more information

Saturday 30th July 2016

at 8:00 

sekyana hall

Equal Opportunities Commission, Uganda

Further to the blog on Report on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) which discussed United Nations session held in April 2016. The session was to follow up and address problems with the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. A report detailing concerns of the committee was published after the meeting (Concluding observations on the initial report of Uganda). 

Point 8 in the report notes that the committee is concerned about persistent discrimination against PWDs. Concluding that the committee is concerned "that the work of the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) has not been made known widely among PWDs." 

This article is to inform PWDs about the work of the EOC. The following information comes from the EOC website:

Mandate To eliminate discrimination and inequalities against any individual or group of persons on the ground of sex, age, race, color, ethnic origin, tribe, birth, creed or religion, health status, social or economic standing, political opinion or disability, and take affirmative action in favor of the groups marginalized on the basis of gender, age, disability or any other reason created by history, tradition or custom for the purpose of redressing imbalances which exist against them; and to provide for other related matters. 

Vision A just and fair society where all persons have equal opportunity to participate and benefit in all spheres of political, economic, social and cultural life. 

Mission The EOC is a constitutional body established to give effect to the state’s mandate to eliminate discrimination against any individual or groups of persons through taking affirmative action to redress imbalances and promote equal opportunities for all in all spheres of life.

The EOC website gives the following answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs).

What is affirmative action? It is a deliberate action or initiative taken in favour of marginalized groups to redress imbalances or discrimination on those grounds identified in the legislation.

What happens if equal opportunities laws are violated? In each case, the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) will examine & investigate to decide whether the treatment complained of amount to a violation of equal opportunities legislation or goes against affirmative action and then will take appropriate action.

What are examples of discrimination & marginalization? Individuals or groups of persons can encounter unfair treatment in many aspects of their lives. Such unfair treatment might be regarded as discrimination under the equal opportunities legislation in the following examples amongst others:

• A disabled person cannot access a service in a building because, there is no ramp or accessibility for a wheelchair.
• A female colleague earns less than males doing work of equal value.
• Groups of individuals are subjected to cultural acts ,such as female genital mutilation, which impair their enjoyment of human rights.
• An older person or youth denied employment or access to services because of age.
• An individual living with HIV/AIDS is dismissed from his or her employment on the grounds of their health status.
• An expectant mother is denied a job on the basis of her pregnancy, or is denied maternity leave by her employer.

What is marginalization? Marginalization is a situation where a person or group of people are disadvantaged or excluded from accessing opportunities, resources or services, or from taking part in making decisions on matters concerning their lives.

What is discrimination? Discrimination is when a person or group is unfairly or less favourably treated than others on any of the above grounds. It can happen as a result of negative attitudes or prejudice towards an individual or group of persons. Sometimes discrimination occurs as a result of social or economic barriers, political circumstances or bureaucratic requirements that make it more difficult for some people to access opportunities or services.

What does the law on equal opportunities say? Under the equal opportunities legislation it is unlawful to discriminate against any individual or group of persons on the grounds of: (The rest of this paragraph is currently blank. The Mandate quoted above says this list should be: sex, age, race, color, ethnic origin, tribe, birth, creed or religion, health status, social or economic standing, political opinion or disability. The list also includes failure to take affirmative action in favor of the groups marginalized on the basis of gender, age, disability or any other reason created by history, tradition or custom for the purpose of redressing imbalances which exist against them; and to provide for other related matters).

What does equal opportunities mean? Equal opportunities mean that everybody receives the same treatment and consideration in the enjoyment of rights and freedoms. This includes access to social services, education, employment, physical environment and participation in social, economic, cultural and political activities.

How can the EOC deal with people who contravene the law on equal opportunities? Where a violation has taken place, the offending party:

• may be cautioned and directed to rectify the situation
• may be fined
• A person may be imprisoned or be both fined and imprisoned
• How can the complainant be protected?

The law protects people against being victimized after they have made a complaint about discrimination or marginalization. A complaint can also be made in confidence.

How can victims of marginalization or discrimination seek redress from the EOC? An individual or group of people may lodge a complaint relating to discrimination, marginalization or any act which undermines or impairs equal opportunities. The complaint can be in writing or lodged verbally. The Commission will then consider or hear the complaint within a period of six months.

How can the public access the services of the EOC? The EOC can be accessed by contacting us through;
Physical Address
Plot 7 Lithuli close, Bugolobi, Kampala

Postal Address 
Equal Opportunities Commission
P.O Box 27672, Kampala, Uganda

For more information go to the Equal Opportunities Commission.

Report on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities

A report from NBS TV Uganda (16th June 2016) says that Uganda is still doing badly in providing an environment for the rights of people with disability. Gaps were identified during the appearance of Uganda before the United Nations Committee in April.

The Assistant Commissioner for Disability and Elderly under the Ministry of Gender, Beatrice Nabulime Kaggya MP said that Uganda still uses derogatory language against PWDs throughout its legislation.

The committee recommends that Uganda harmonizes definitions of disability in the various laws and policies.

The system of education and health service delivery for persons with disabilities was found to be poor in terms of access. The UN committee recommends that Uganda carries out training for people who deliver these services on the use of sign languages.

People with Disability welcomed the development.

The national women's MP representing PWDs in parliament, Sofia Nalule Juuko encouraged Uganda to copy the South African practice and involve more Ugandans. Nalule also called upon human rights stakeholders to share the copy of the concluding observations with parliament for better implementation and budgetary allocation.

Persons with disabilities are now calling for the appointment of a minister for the docket.

For further information please see this report. The report details concerns of the committee and areas that Uganda must work to rectify before the next seession in 2022.
Concluding observations on the initial report of Uganda

You can hug someone with HIV/AIDS

Next time you see a person with HIV/AIDS don't shun them. Go and talk to them. Think on these facts.

When I was nursing, I nursed people with HIV/AIDS, I had to bear in mind the following:

• Anyone can have the HIV virus



Nurse Peter Smith

• It is wrong to judge people that are HIV positive

The HIV virus is found in the blood and sexual fluids, it is spread in 3 ways:

1. Sexual activity when you come into direct contact with blood, semen or viginal fluids especially during unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex
2. Blood to blood, the HIV virus cannot pass through unbroken skin
3. Mother to baby either while the baby is in the womb, being born or being breast fed

Condoms when used correctly are effective at preventing the transmission of AIDS. Proper education is the key to AIDS prevention.

You cannot become HIV positive from any of the following:

• Hugging 
• Mucus 
• Sweat 
• kissing (there are rare cases of people with gum disease (bleeding gums) tansmitting the virus through their saliva) 
• Shaking hands 
• Eating from the same plate 
• Towels or clothing 
• Sharing toilets or latrines 
• Sitting close to HIV people 
• Mosquitoes or other insects or animals

Finally, it should be obvious that:

• You cannot cure AIDS by sleeping with a virgin
• AIDS is NOT a disease of gay men
• AIDS is NOT a punishment from god, it is a virus just like the common cold

For more information see Myths and Facts about HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS and Disability in Uganda

Many disabled people are HIV positive.

There is a myth that disabled people do not have sexual intercourse. The reality is that persons with disabilities (PWDs) are often in relationships without emotional commitment, the relationship is not long lasting. PWDs often have multiple partners. Another myth is that if you sleep with a PWD you will cure your HIV.

The following points were made:

• PWDs with HIV/AIDS have a double stigma. 
• The services PWDs need to access are often in places that are difficult to reach.
• The deaf fear that their translators will not keep their health status confidential.
• PWDs are often unaware of their rights.
• Uganda has very good disability rights law.

There are 3 organisations working to inform both PWDs of their rights and health service providers of their responsibilities.

Bedsores are Preventable

Bedsores are common and easily preventable. Bedsores are caused when a person is immobile and cannot move themselves or if they are unable to change their position in their wheelchair or bed.

When a person lays or sits in one position for a long time the blood does not flow to the skin area that is compressed. Eventually the skin will breakdown and a sore will develop. Finally the skin will break and there will be a risk of infection. This may become serious.

Bedsores like the one on this youngsters hip are preventable.Children With Disabilities Uganda

To prevent bedsores the immobile person should be turned every 2 hours. Or if they are sitting they should change their position every 2 hours.

If the person already has a bed sore, they should never lay on the bedsore. Laying on the bedsore will cause more breakdown and damage. Lay the person or sit them so that they are not resting on the bedsore.