The government's commitments to advancing the rights of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) remain largely unfulfilled, raising concerns ahead of the Global Disability Summit set for April 2–3, 2025, in Berlin, Germany.
The National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda (NUDIPU) has raised the alarm, calling on the government to urgently implement pledges made at previous summits in 2018 and 2022.
In a press briefing held at their offices, NUDIPU acknowledged the government’s progress in enacting the Persons with Disabilities Act and increasing budget allocations for special grants.
However, the organization highlighted a long list of unimplemented commitments, including the finalization of the National Inclusive Education Policy, the development of an ICT Policy for PWDs, and the establishment of disability employment quotas.
Despite Uganda's strong statements at global disability summits, key promises remain unmet.
Among them are the failure to equip at least 40% of orthopedic workshops nationwide, the lack of a concrete employment quota system for PWDs, and inadequate public service recruitment policies to promote inclusion.
Furthermore, ministries and agencies tasked with ensuring sign language accessibility and reasonable accommodation have yet to take significant action.
NUDIPU also criticized the lack of a needs assessment for PWDs within refugee settlements and internally displaced communities, stating that failure to act on these commitments continues to marginalize an already vulnerable group.
"For years, Persons with Disabilities have been promised inclusion, but without action, these commitments remain empty words. The government must prioritize disability-inclusive policies, not just for international recognition, but to improve the daily lives of millions of Ugandans who continue to face systemic barriers," said NUDIPU Executive Officer Esther Kyozira.
As Uganda prepares to participate in the Berlin summit, NUDIPU is urging the government to fast-track the implementation of commitments made in previous summits, strengthen coordination within the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development to ensure the effective execution of disability policies, prioritize funding for disability inclusion programs across ministries and agencies, and engage PWDs and their organizations in monitoring government commitments.
NUDIPU Chief Executive Officer Esther Kyozira underscored the urgency of these actions, warning that repeated pledges without tangible implementation undermine Uganda’s credibility in global disability rights advocacy.
"It is worrying that our country makes bold commitments in favor of Persons with Disabilities on the global stage but struggles to implement them afterward," NUDIPU stated.