The Assistant Commissioner for Inclusive and Non-formal Education in the Ministry of Education and Sports, Sarah Ayesiga, says they are currently deploying an Inclusive Education approach to cater for all children.

According to Ayesiga, the traditional approach to Special Needs Education in Uganda has primarily focused on providing specialized support to learners with disabilities, often through special schools or dedicated classes within mainstream schools.

This method typically involves specialized teaching methods, support services such as sign language interpreters and Braille transcribers, access to resource rooms and technology to assist students with visible and severe disabilities.

"Beyond these, the ministry has embraced an Inclusive Education (IE) approach, which goes beyond traditional methods by modifying curricula, teaching strategies, resources, and the learning environment to accommodate the individual needs of all children, not just those with disabilities," Ayesiga said.

Inclusive Education is learner-centered, flexible, and aims to remove barriers to participation ensuring that every child, regardless of their abilities, has the opportunity to interact, learn, and thrive within a supportive environment.

This approach emphasizes changing attitudes, teaching practices, and resource allocation to create an educational system that meets the needs of all students.

She was speaking during the official launch of the Ivy Braille Foundation (IBF), a groundbreaking charitable organization founded by Hellen Mukasa, a passionate advocate for people with disabilities (PWDs).

Named after her daughter, Ivy Braille, the foundation is dedicated to transforming the lives of visually impaired children in Uganda by providing them with access to essential assistive technology, ensuring they have the tools needed to succeed in school and lead fulfilling lives within their communities.

Mukasa shared that her inspiration for the foundation came from her personal experiences as a mother.

“The Ivy Braille Foundation was born out of my journey with my three-year-old daughter, who was born with a visual impairment. Raising her involved navigating a world that often overlooks the needs of children with disabilities and finding the right resources and support," she added.

Through the Ivy Braille Foundation, Mukasa is determined to provide children with visual impairments the tools and opportunities they need to thrive, ensuring they can lead full and meaningful lives despite the obstacles they face.

Lydia Abenaitwe, a Program Officer for Inclusive Employment at Light for the World International, said that discrimination against people with disabilities extends beyond the education system and into the workplace.

"As a woman living with a physical disability, I have faced numerous challenges in my professional journey. During my childhood I witnessed and experienced the struggles of many children with disabilities who were marginalized and denied opportunities,” she noted.

Abenaitwe emphasized the urgent need for more inclusive practices and policies that ensure equal opportunities for PWDs, enabling them to fully participate in the workforce and contribute their talents without facing unnecessary barriers.

According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics Census Report 2014, 12.4% of Uganda's population lives with a disability, with difficulty seeing being one of the most common disabilities, affecting 6.5% of the population.

The statistics are even more alarming in rural areas, where 23.5% of people report difficulties in seeing, compared to those in urban areas. PWDs in Uganda often face severe poverty, limited access to education, healthcare, suitable housing, and employment opportunities