PARENTS | PARENTING | CHILDREN 

ARUA - Arua deputy Resident District Commissioner Ham Muzamil Ezama wants parents who abandon their children with disabilities and block them from accessing education apprehended saying it is criminal. 

 “Parents do not want to care for children with disabilities. We need to promote the rights of PWDs and children,” Ezama said. 

Ezama made the call during a dialogue on August 25 in Arua city organised by Show Ability Uganda (SAU) and Action on Disability and Development (ADD) for PWDs drawn from different parts of districts in the West Nile region. 

He also wants stringent action taken against those who abuse the rights of persons with disabilities (PWDs).  

Agnes Apio, a Midwife Supervisor attached to Medicine San Frontiers MSF in Arua Hospital said they offer free medical services to all. (All Photos by Robert Ariaka)

Ezama was irked by the failure to report gender-based violence (GBV) against PWDs by the communities. He said this makes it difficult for the authorities to take action. 

 He added that every month, his office receives over three cases of GBV against PWDs, which are later referred to the Police for further action. 

 NGOs warned 

He warned non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to desist from serving their interest after getting funding but focus on empowering PWDs to have changed economic benefits. 

 “Do not remain in the hotels, go to the community and serve the vulnerable PWDs. Many NGOs do not have impact on the ground. For us as a government we need results,” Ezama said. 

 He wondered why some NGOs would declare a list of people suffering, but they do not openly disclose the number of people supported. 

ASP Jimmy Anguyo warned parents and local leaders against negotiating defilement cases with offenders.

 He appealed to the PWDs to disclose their challenges to the leaders for action. 

 Staggering defilement cases 

Child and Family Protection Unit officer for West Nile region Jimmy Anguyo said during the dialogue that last year, the Police registered 135 cases of defilement with 10 cases of rape. In 2022 from January to July, the Police in the region has so far registered 75 cases of defilement and 12 cases of rape cases. 

 The Police also recorded 50 cases of domestic violence and Anguyo said only 20% of the cases are reported. 

He added that most cases of teenage pregnancy are negotiated at homes. 

The officials and leaders of PWDs were shocked to get reports from the Police that, this year, only three cases of GBV had so far been reported against PWDs yet several remain unreported. 

 Show Ability Uganda (SAU) executive director Betty Cheptoek said girls with cerebral palsy are prone to GBV. She said the various stakeholders should ensure inclusion of PWDs in the different services and programmes. 

 She challenged the PWD youth to take the lead in the various government programmes and get economic empowerment. 

Betty Cheptoek, the Executive Director Show Ability Uganda (SAU) said girls with cerebral palsy are highly victims of gender-based violence.

 Evidence killed 

ADD country director Thomas Kyokuhaire said women with disability are likely to be sexually abused. This is because of blindness, weakness, parents abandoning and not reporting the cases. 

 He said a number of programmes undertaken lack concepts for PWDs. Kyokuhaire demands the need to have services accessible to PWDs. 

 “We have cases where evidence is killed and destroyed to frustrate justice for PWDs. This is coupled with the problem of low self-esteem among women with disability, which exposes them to Sexual GBV and HIV,” Kyokuhaire said. 

 He added that parents conceal information on GBV on PWD’s making it difficult to fight for their rights and get justice. 

 Agnes Apio, a midwife supervisor attached to Medicine San Frontiers MSF (Doctors Without Borders) urged PWDs who are abused sexually to access free medical services at the clinic in Arua Regional Referral Hospital to prevent infections. 

 “We support both the host communities and refugees and this is inclusive with PWDs. The services are free for all,” Apio said.  

 She added that to avoid stigma in the community, they use private cars to pick up the GBV survivors for treatment at their clinic. The stakeholders agreed to jointly protect, report, promote rights and fight GBV against PWDs in West Nile.