Church, CSOs unite to combat discrimination against PWDs in Masindi

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Leaders from the Pentecostal Churches of Uganda (PCU) and various civil society organisations (CSOs) in Masindi district have strongly condemned the discrimination faced by persons with disabilities (PWDs) in homes, churches and government institutions.

Bishop Charles Bagonza, the general overseer of the Pentecostal Churches of Uganda and lead pastor at Kabarwana Pentecostal Church in Masindi, highlighted the negative impact of societal beliefs on attitudes towards PWDs.

"Among these beliefs is that disability is a curse, a punishment from God, or that disabled people can’t work or get married, all of which increase discrimination against them by community members," he stated.

Betty Kwagala, representing Positive Women with Disabilities, a network for women and young girls with disabilities in Uganda, emphasised that discrimination against children with disabilities often begins at home.

She advised parents to extend the same love and support to their children with disabilities as they do to their able-bodied children.

Kwagala, who is herself disabled, shared her personal experience, saying she would not have achieved her current position without education, which she might have been denied because of her disability.

In a proactive move, the Pentecostal Churches of Uganda, with funding from Finnish Mission Uganda, have launched a campaign to protect the rights of PWDs in Masindi district.

Representatives from CSOs and Kabarwana Pentecostal church leaders after the training.

The initiative was announced on June 4, 2026, by Bagonza during a training session for Masindi district CSOs that partner with the church’s humanitarian organisation, "Better for Families Uganda", under its "Better Life" project, which aims to improve livelihoods in the district.

During the training held at Kabarwana PCU Masindi Town Church, Bagonza stressed that anyone can become disabled and that persons with disabilities have both the rights and capacity to contribute to community development.

He acknowledged the challenges PWDs face, including lack of inclusive education, inaccessible classrooms, shortage of special learning materials, lack of assistive devices, isolation, bullying and rejection.

Bagonza said the aim of the training was to equip CSOs with knowledge about disability, enabling them to integrate disability inclusion into their programmes.

This involves advocating for and promoting the rights of PWDs by sensitising families and community members to love and care for them.

Isaac Milton Atugonza, the chairperson of the Masindi District Disability Council, commended PCU for its timely intervention, noting that PWDs in the district continue to face numerous challenges that require collective action.

Margaret Muganzi Kakyo, the resident director of Masindi Tropical Primary School, said the training had significantly broadened her understanding of disability, which would help teachers better support learners at the school.

Godfrey Kugonza, the councillor for Kikwanana ward in Masindi Municipality, acknowledged the prevalence of discrimination against children with disabilities in communities and pledged to use the knowledge gained from the training to address it.