Kaliro includes GBV, climate change concerns in PWD policy

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Kaliro district local government has amended the people with disabilities (PWDs) policy with a focus on inclusive gender-based violence (GBV) services and climate change.

The policy, which was first produced in 2024, has been amended to realise sexual and reproductive health rights, promote climate resilience and end GBV.  This was done with support from the Disability Rights Fund (DRF) through Integrated Disabled Women Activities (IDIWA). 

IDIWI spokesperson Akram Akakuuma, who presented the amended policy on February 26, 2025, said there is a need for an inclusive approach which is not only problem-oriented but one, which provides mitigation risk factors and puts in place a safety detection and prevention mechanism.

“The policy doesn’t replace or duplicate any existing policy and programme interventions targeting PWDs but instead it builds on the existing ones with a focus on the delivery of developmental and climate services,” he noted.

Kaliro district local government has amended the people with disabilities (PWDs) policy with a focus on inclusive gender-based violence (GBV) services and climate change. (Photo by Doreen Musingo)

He explained that the policy is to move from rhetoric practice through a set of commitments by examining the reproductive health of PWDs including implications and consequences of their health development based on local context and culture.

While presenting the amended policy at a Ntinda View Hotel in Iganga municipality to various leaders of PWDs from the Busoga region, he noted that the policy reflects most importantly on giving a voice to PWDs who have articulated priorities for development and outlined the need for the protection of their human rights.

He said the new development comes after PWDs have been marginalised and discriminated against while adults faced a higher rate of violence raised concerns in one voice.

“Women and girls with disabilities face particular barriers to their rights, as gender and disability intersect. They experience discrimination, exclusion, isolation and denial of their dignity with autonomy both in public and within their own families,” he said.

He noted that many individuals face high rates of gender-based violence, which can manifest as physical, psychological, and economic abuse. Additionally, some experience mistreatment and discrimination by medical professionals through invasive and irreversible procedures without informed consent, such as forced sterilizations and abortions.

Jimmy Jackson Ngolobe, the programme officer of gender, disability and climate justice, called for the use of a holistic approach while handling issues of disability, GBV and environment conservation since they have interconnectedness links.

He said women and girls with disability are often considered weak and worthless while in some cases subhuman by their societies because of the risks of domestic and sexual violence.

He recommended the promotion of smart agriculture in Kaliro district through creating awareness and building productive capacity which will sustainably increase food productivity.

“Through smart agriculture, we have deceived to planting of 100,000 fruit trees which will contribute to food security, nutrition and economically empower PWDs,” he said.

Grace Anna Asio, a human rights advocate for PWDs and also a senior gender, disability and climate change officer at IDIWA, said rights are paramount because they make one feel respected and fit in society.

“It's not good to undermine one’s rights because rights are universal, we expect when communities are enjoying their rights, they should be mindful of PWD rights too because we are also human,” she noted.

She called for the generation of data to understand the impact of climate change on violence against women and girls with disabilities. Others are strengthening awareness and building capacity on environment, climate action and disaster risk reduction programs.

Hajjirah Kagwa, the chairperson of people with albinism from Kaliro district, urged communities to desist from calling them nicknames because they have a classification of their disabilities.