BY IRENE LAMUNU
“Disability is not inability,” is a famous adage used in our society. Unfortunately, to some, the saying is simply words; they don’t consider disabled persons as normal, physically and emotionally. Many have abused and discriminated against them and treated them unfairly, we still have lessons to learn from the World Bank.
One core activity of the World Bank is including persons with disabilities and expanding equitable opportunities to build sustainable, inclusive communities, aligned with the institution’s goals to end extreme poverty and promote shared prosperity. The World Bank is also integrating disability into development through its analytical work, data collection and good-practice policies.
The Bank further addresses disability issues in its operations, across a wide range of sectors, including; promoting access to infrastructural facilities and social services, rehabilitation, skills development, creating economic opportunities and working with organizations for Persons with Disabilities.
They also focus on the most vulnerable among people with disabilities, such as; women and children, influence policies and institutional development. The Global Disability Advisor’s team serves as a focal point for ongoing advisory and analytical support to operational teams on disability-inclusive approaches in project design and implementation. The World Bank revised its Disability Inclusion and Accountability Framework in 2022, the initial version was launched in June 2018.
Their record shows that, one billion people or 15% of the world’s population, experience some form of disability and disability prevalence is higher for developing countries. The World Bank states that persons with disabilities are more likely to experience adverse socio-economic outcomes such as: less education, poorer health outcomes, lower levels of employment and higher poverty rates. Poverty may increase the risk of disability through: malnutrition, inadequate access to education and health care, unsafe working conditions, a polluted environment and lack of access to safe water and sanitation. Disability may also increase the risk of poverty through lack of employment and education opportunities, lower wages and increased cost of living with a disability. Barriers to full social and economic inclusion of persons with disabilities include; inaccessible physical environments and transportation, the unavailability of assistive devices and technologies, non-adapted means of communication, gaps in service delivery and discriminatory prejudice and stigma in society.
Global awareness of disability-inclusive development is increasing. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) ratified by 185 countries promotes the full integration of persons with disabilities in societies. The CRPD specifically references the importance of international development in addressing the rights of persons with disabilities.
In Uganda, it has not been rosy for people living with disability until recently. Some employers will not employ disabled persons, let alone governments in many developing countries. Moreover, many of the programs designed by government do not favour disabled people.
This can be proven by the public transport system in many countries, access to many schools, hospitals and public buildings is tasking for the people living with disabilities.
Acwera John, one of the disabled person living in Kamwokya revealed that even with his Diploma in Business Administration and anagement, majoring in accounting, he has failed to get a job because of his appearance. He has unfortunately ended begging on the streets.
He added that he worked with Sanlam insurance for two years but quit after he had not received any pay. He then tried to apply for jobs in government and non government Organizations, where he still failed. Acwera added that one time he was short listed for a job, he was excited to do the interview but at the end of the interview, the employer told him they could not employ him because of his appearance. Today, he is volunteering as an accountant with Equality Approach Uganda, an NGO that is helping the disabled people living in Kamwokya.
The Uganda government has come out and put in place the persons with disability act 2006, which provides a Comprehensive Legal Protection for Persons With Disabilities in accordance with Article 32 and 35 of The Constitution; to make Provisions for the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Persons with Disability towards Equalization of Opportunities. Unfortunately, some of the laws are not taken into action. Another law of the Persons with Disabilities Act 2020, which is a key instrument in providing for the rights of persons with disability and also enactment of laws and policies to address their concerns with disabilities were also put in place.
Despite all these laws, people living with disability still face segregation from the public. Acwera noted that, when they had just moved to Kampala, they were facing lots of segregation. “We used to face a lot of segregation. They would ask us for our cups and plates if we wanted to buy tea or food. Many times, they would give us their cups and tell us not to return them. Even public transport drivers (commuter taxis and bodas), would segregate against us especially on rainy days, the drivers would tell us that we are dirty and would make their passengers dirty so they would not allow us in the vehicles even if we had money. It was worse with Boda Boda men. They would tell us, look at how dirty you are.
This is because most of us cannot walk, instead, we crawl,” he explained. Ocen Julius, who cannot stand nor walk but only crawls explained that he lives in Kamwokya together with a group of PWD. He revealed that he begs on the streets of Kampala to survive. He added that they would beg and also sleep on the streets and they would be robbed of their belongings. This was not until Lisa from Denmark bought a plot of land in Kamwokya and constructed a home for them. Mr Ocen noted that they now have a decent accommodation, better than the one they had before.
Mr Ocen revealed that he trained in Computer but he could not secure a job in any organization because of his condition; “Many organizations often told me they needed someone who could stand and walk which I was unable to do, so I resorted to begging.” Julius said they live with women with disabilities, but they usually suffer more than the men because able bodied men deceive them and get them pregnant then leave them alone with the children, without any financial assistance. He also noted that many of them cannot return to the villages because for most, their land has been stolen and they cannot go back, leave alone dig. Despite the fact that there are areas that the government has ignored, they have focused on provision of health services, community based rehabilitation, vocational training and Universal Primary Education as key measures to empower PWDs.
Some of the disabled have benefited from this affirmative action like Alwo Vicent, who went to Human technical school in Lira. Unfortunately, after school, he was segregated against and couldn’t find a decent job.
