The Government has made a commitment to prioritize people with disabilities (PWDs) in the upcoming census to ease budget allocation.

Albert Byamugisha, the head of the national Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) secretariat in the Office of the Prime Minister, said on Wednesday the available statistics are not clear.

He explained that in the previous counting exercise, the Uganda Bureau of Statistics carried out a general census which did not allow the country to ascertain the actual percentage of PWDs.

UBOS 2016 indicated that 12.4% of the Ugandan population live with some form of disability, translating to approximately 4.5 million Ugandans. However, according to Byamugisha, the information lacks clarity due to generalization.

(L-R) Juliet Sentongo Busobozi Programme Officer Eye Health at Sightsavers and Albert Byamugisha Head National SDGs Secretariat OPM at the disability inclusion SDGs press conference on September 13, 2023

"The data is available, but it is lacking. We have made sure that all the questions that are being set up in the questionnaire’s preparation for the census early next year will be included," he said.

"So, by the end of next year, we will be able to produce data or statistics for all persons with disabilities in this country."

Byamugisha was addressing the media about disability inclusion in SDGs implementation monitoring and reporting in Kampala.

He noted that clear information helps a country make informed decisions or rightful measures and helps to weigh the performance of every sector or institution. He reasoned that it was one of the ways to budget for PWDs efficiently.

This came after most of the representatives of PWDs complained that the Government had left them out.

David Nangosi, the programmes officer of the National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda (NUDIPU), said most of the PWDs miss out on service delivery.

He said most of them are embedded in poverty because of unclear circumstances. As a case in point, Nangosi stressed that people with visual impairment and epilepsy continue to be left out when it comes to benefiting from government programmes such as in the education sector.

"I call upon the government to focus more on the overriding theme of leaving no-one behind by making sure and developing strategies for marginalized groups to benefit as well," said Nangosi.

He said only a few who speak their mind get help.

Nangosi said schools for PWDs are not enough and are far away, meaning some end up missing education due to the long distances involved.

The SDGs address the global challenges people face, including those related to poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace, and justice.

However, with seven years left, the dream seems to be moving slowly, and the expected fruits are not vividly seen, according to the executive director of NUDIPU, Esther Kyozira. Accordingly, if a certain group of people is left behind, Uganda may hardly stand to celebrate the achievement of the SDGs in 2030.

"If we are part of the 43 million, it means Uganda will not be able to achieve all the SDGs as planned because there are 12.4% that are not fully consulted or brought on board in decision-making," she said.

Kyozira said that, especially in education, health, access to justice, and the political environment, once the PWDs benefit well, it will also impact the government on the side of the SDGs.

"If we are not fully involved, it means our level of knowledge will be a little lower than those that are part of the system."

'Concerned'

Byamugisha urged the leaders of PWDs to maintain communication among themselves.

"Even when you are called upon, take advantage and inform your members that there is an opportunity, but if you don’t come, then it means you (PWD) will have to miss," he said.

He attributed the challenge to the insufficient data available, which would have influenced the Government to spend more on them. 

Byamugisha assured that before the end of next year, all PWD queries would be addressed, saying that will be the time when the government will have the right numbers.

"We are all concerned, and we want to support this category of people."