Gov’t assures PWDs of special status in Parish development model program

The State Minister for Disability Affairs, Hellen Asamo has assured people with disabilities that they have a special status in the recently launched Parish Development Model program.

“As we talk about the parish development model, the disabled will be getting 10% of the money. We also don’t stop them from getting into the 30% of the women, 30% of the youths and 20% of the men because they are part and parcel of the whole system,” Asamo said.

The minister was on Tuesday speaking during the launch of a three day meeting for stakeholders to discuss realization of rights for persons with disabilities at Hotel African in Kampala.

Asamo said whereas PWDs are not stopped from being part of the other groups, there is a 10% ring fenced specially for them to ensure they ably participate in the program aimed at ensuring all Ugandans join the money economy.

“The 10% is shs10 million per parish for persons with disabilities. This means shs100 billion in financial 2022/23 and will continued for next four years.”

She noted that there are still other funds in form of the national special grant worth shs9.6 billion and an additional shs5 billion this year aimed at ensuring people with disabilities run social economic activities.

“As the fight for their rights, the ground is green and good for them to fight for their rights.”

The three day Uganda grantee convening will be hosted by the National Union of Disabled persons of Uganda (NUDIPU) with support from Disability Rights Fund under the theme, “Leveraging international human rights standards and practices to build forward” and will end on May, 19.

The meeting that brings together stakeholders will help in sharing lessons, experiences and good practices in the pandemic and its impact on their work and future emergencies.

“The meeting will help in learning from government about efforts in implementing its Global Disability Summit commitments and meeting its obligations under international and regional human rights treaties,” said NUDIPU’s Aero Ketty.

She noted that the meeting will also see donors and cooperating partners share information on disability related funding in Uganda to ensure a coordinated approach and get the perspective of the grantees on their priorities in form of strategies and future funding.