No braille system for PWDS in forthcoming general elections - EC

By Joyce Namutebi                            

There will be no braille facility on ballot papers for use by Persons With Disability (PWDs) in the forthcoming general elections, the Electoral Commission has announced.

The officer in charge of special interest groups at the Electoral Commission (EC), Stuart Tamale said that use of braille for ballot papers during the forthcoming general elections will not be possible because the percentage of braille literate PWDs cannot be ascertained in the short run.

This was at a workshop called to brief PWDs about the Electoral Commission 2015/16 general elections roadmap for election of representatives of PWDs to local government councils and Parliament.

The workshop held at Tal Cottages, Rubaga recently was organised by MPs representing PWDs together with the Office of the Minister without Portfolio, Abraham Byandala.

It was attended by PWDs mainly from Central region.

Braille is a system of raised dots that can be read with the fingers by people who are blind or who have low vision.

Tamale said PWDs will use their own helpers/guides for assistance in accessing voting locations, materials and information during the elections.

He assured that the Commission would facilitate the guides during elections for MP at national level.

He revealed that in the long run EC staff would be trained to read braille/sign language to avoid use of other persons who might be compromised in favour of some candidates.

According to the programme, the PWD’s voters’ register will be displayed for ten days starting July 22 to July 31 at Parish/ward level to allow correction of voters’ particulars and removal of ineligible voters.

The Commission has appointed and gazette November 9 and 10, 2015 as dates for nomination of candidates for PWD parliamentary elections.

Tamale urged the National Council for Disability to take lead in establishing the statistics of each of the 18 categories of PWDs as provided by the National Council for Disability Act “since statistics at UBOS may not have data for each of the 18 PWD coded categories.

As the political landscape changes in preparation of the 2016 general elections, some PWD attacked Resident District Commissioners (RDCs), accusing them of not being vigorous in defending and promoting government programmes.

The PWDs told the Special Presidential Advisor RDC Desk Office, Office of the President, Mohammed Mayanja that RDCs are keeping quiet as the airwaves are being monopolised by the opposition who are making wild allegations against the government.

They reiterated their demand to be appointed RDCs and ministers, saying they also have stamina and capability. To this end, they renewed their request to meet the President to talk to him about this and other matters.

“RDCs are so quiet. Can you select from amongst us NRM supporters so that we bombard the airwaves and counter the lies being aired,” Francis Kinubi said as his colleagues applauded.

Their representative in Parliament, Safia Nalule caused laughter when she said that the “vote cast by disabled people is not disabled.” She assured the President of a block vote of two million from PWDs.

Under the Constitution RDCs are mandated to coordinate the administration of government services in the districts and to carry out such other functions as may be assigned by the President or prescribed by Parliament.

MP, Alex Ndeezi urged the Government and the EC to make sure that PWDS participate effectively in the elections and remove all barriers such as lack of information and inaccessibility of polling centres.

MP Hood Katuramu asked Mayanja to remind the President about a pledge he made in 2010 to provide motorcycles to PWD councilors at the district to help them monitor and supervise programmes.

Mayanja briefed the PWDs about Government’s Operation Wealth Creation.

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