PWDs ask Government to design social protection programs to address un employment .

As Uganda joins the rest of the world to commemorate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities through the National union of Disabled persons in Uganda have expressed concern as many of the persons with invisible and marginalized disabilities are denied access to opportunities such as employment, education and social interaction due to their unseen disabilities and severe vulnerability.

Others out of fear of stigma, do not want to disclose their disability which makes them to live at risk and experience limited participation in the development process.this is according to Mpindi Bumali, the Chairperson of the National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda (NUDIPU).

This comes as NUDIPU joins the rest of the world to commemorate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities under the them "‘’Not all disabilities are visible: A call for stronger action during and post COVID-19 era’’. 

This year’s theme helps us to focus on bringing awareness and understanding of disabilities that are not immediately apparent and not given attention as much as the visible disabilities which include  include; deaf blind, epilepsy, mental and psycho-social disabilities, down syndrome, Autism, Hydrocephalus, Spina Befida, cerebral palsy, among others.

The world Health Organization report on disability 2020 indicates that more than one billion people live with some form of disability out of this, it is estimated that 450 million people are living with mental or neurological condition. 69 million individuals are estimated to sustain traumatic brain injuries worldwide, one in 160 children are identified as having autism.

How ever In Uganda, according to the population census 2014, persons with disabilities constitute 12.4% of the total population. Often, those with severe disabilities are locked up in houses while the invisible group are not easily identified.

Mpindi Bumali is asking the  government, the civil society and the public to pay attention to the most marginalized disability categories by designing specific programmes that will empower them to effectively participate in the development processes and also   Establish their unique needs that may require special attention.

This ranges from service providers in respect to health, education and social inclusion among others He says the Government through the Ministry of gender, labour and social development to design a social protection programme that will address the disability related costs, care and support for the invisible disabilities since the majority of them are not able to independently cope with the formal employment programmes.