The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development has announced plans to fast-track the establishment of a national disability data system aimed at improving budgeting, program design, and service delivery for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
The revelation was made by the newly appointed State Minister for Gender, Labour and Social Development in charge of Disability, Ms Joyce Okeny Acan, as she unveiled her 10-point strategic programme.
Ms Acan emphasized that effective planning relies heavily on accurate data. The ministry will partner with the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) and the National Information Technology Authority-Uganda (NITA-U) to build the system and support PWD-led research to eliminate systemic barriers.
“The school dropout rate among learners with disabilities remains unacceptably high due to stigma, discrimination, poverty, and inaccessible learning environments,” Ms. Acan said.
Data from the UBOS 2024 National Population and Housing Census paints a grim picture of the educational landscape for PWDs, revealing that only 9% of children with disabilities who enroll in Primary One complete Primary Seven. The situation worsens at the secondary level, where just 6% finish Senior Six.
To combat this, the Minister announced the launch of a nationwide “Take Them to School / Soma Omwana” campaign in collaboration with local councils, religious institutions, and cultural leaders. The ministry also plans to expand Special Needs Education (SNE) units, train specialized teachers, and increase access to assistive devices.
According to the 2024 census, the number of PWDs in Uganda increased from 4.4 million in 2014 to 5.5 million. The statistics show that 1.7 million are children aged between two and 17 years. The report further highlights specific challenges, noting that over 434,000 Ugandans face walking difficulties, while hundreds of thousands of others grapple with visual, hearing, speech, and cognitive impairments.
Beyond education, Ms Acan committed to enforcing accessibility standards across public infrastructure, transport, and ICT platforms. She also pledged to strengthen Business, Technical, Vocational Education and Training (BTVET) programs to boost employment.
“Accessibility is a right, not a privilege,” Ms. Acan stated, adding that her office will focus on developing strict regulations and district ordinances to ensure existing disability laws are fully implemented rather than remaining on paper.