President Museveni has reiterated the government commitment to champion interests of Persons with Disabilities across the country.
“I want to reiterate the NRM’s commitment to meaningful inclusion of Persons with Disabilities, in all aspects of life. Government will continue to ensure that service delivery institutions and mechanisms such as Schools, Health facilities, Offices, Polling Stations, Police Stations, court premises, shopping centres, etc., are fully accessible by all categories of Persons with Disabilities,” Museveni said.
He 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;
Among which includes defeating deep-rooted cultural and social injustices, that afflicted special interest groups, such as Persons with Disabilities.
The president made the remarks in a 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 on Tuesday.
It was marked under the guiding theme, “Improved Household Income for the Wellbeing of Persons with Disabilities.”
Museveni thanked the organisers for theme saying it is in line with NRM’s war against poverty, at the household level and urged everyone to be mobilised to join the war against poverty.
President Museveni told the disability movement that as we continue to address inclusion and rehabilitation needs of Persons with Disabilities, let them not forget that for preventable conditions, 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 immunisation of children, responsible living for the youths.”
He emphasised that such measures can help to mitigate some preventable categories of disabilities.
Museveni underscored the fact that historically, the NRM has gained the reputation of being the vanguard of change and transformation.
“We led Ugandans to overthrow oppressive and dictatorial regimes; we revived Uganda’s economy and restored democracy and respect for human life and property; we led Ugandans to defeat illiteracy and the killer diseases,” he said.
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 mobilise our people to embrace the government wealth creation programmes.
The president assured development partners that government recognises 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 their country.
He added that the NRM government will continue to walk with you in all aspects, with special focus on improved household incomes.
“We observe the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, to recognise 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.
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 maximise our messages on safe driving to mitigate this major contributing factor to disability.
The State Minister for Disability 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 10percent 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.