The Uganda government has successfully portrayed its commitment towards promoting the rights of persons with disabilities (PWDs). Having participated in the 2018 inaugural Global Disability Summit (GDS) that was held in London, Uganda made a public pledge to tackle stigma and discrimination, promote economic empowerment, ensure inclusive education, and harness technology and innovation geared towards improving PWDs’ standards of living. Notably, by 2022 the Uganda government had a 70% progress rate towards their commitments irrespective of policy enforcement gaps and the irreconcilable impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Years later, Uganda renewed its commitment at the second Global Disability Summit in 2022 with much focus on five core thematic areas— capacity-strengthening of organizations of PWDs, inclusive education, health, employment and livelihoods, and inclusion in situations of crises and conflict management like climate change to save Mother Earth. These commitments were developed in consultation with the disability community, which reflects a collaborative approach to disability-inclusive development.
As we join the rest of the world for the third Global Disability Summit in Berlin, scheduled for April 2nd to 3rd, 2025, it is essential to assess Uganda’s progress towards fulfillment of its pledges. Comparatively, the government has done little as regards the development of the National Inclusive Education Policy, the National ICT Policy for PWDs, the implementation of disability employment quotas, and the publication of annual reports on the employment status of PWDs. With this little or no progress towards fulfilling the commitments, the government’s image remains hanging in the sky with an ugly face whose smile might not be gazed at, even in the coming five years.
Thus, we beseech the government to hold fast to its disability-specific commitments to be integrated into national budgets and planning cycles under National Development Plan (NDP IV). The implementation gap undermines Uganda’s progress toward disability inclusion and human rights. As we have the third global disability summit that is held in Berlin, we are duty-bound to call upon the government ministries, departments, and agencies to prioritize these commitments.
As Uganda participates alongside other nations in the 2025 Summit, it is essential to turn commitments into tangible actions. This shall entail allocation of adequate resources, enforcing policies, and fostering coordination among stakeholders. Central to this discussion, meaningful inclusion of PWDs requires more than mere open-air promises to appease the powers that be. Rather, it demands deliberate and sustained efforts to create an equitable society where all individuals are included.
Fundamentally, Global Disability Summit 2025 presents an opportunity for Uganda to showcase its progress and reaffirm its dedication to disability inclusion. By addressing existing gaps and accelerating the implementation of past commitments, Uganda can set a precedent for other nations and contribute to a more inclusive global community.