Denied access to public transport
FRED Mugerwa woke up on a sunny day to go for studies at the Law Development Centre. As he tried to board a taxi at Wandegeya, a Kampala suburb, the conductor slammed the door in his face. Mugerwa then got on the next taxi to the city centre and ensured that the Police impounded the offending vehicl
By Madinah Tebajjukira
and Gershom Musamali
FRED Mugerwa woke up on a sunny day to go for studies at the Law Development Centre. As he tried to board a taxi at Wandegeya, a Kampala suburb, the conductor slammed the door in his face. Mugerwa then got on the next taxi to the city centre and ensured that the Police impounded the offending vehicle and the crew was subsequently arrested.
Mugerwa has also petitioned the Human Rights Commission, arguing that the taxi crew discriminated against him because of his disability.
“That day will never get out of my mind. I thought I didn’t deserve to live when the conductor shouted at me, saying he does not carry lame people in his vehicle,†says Mugerwa.
“When I pleaded with him, he demanded for sh5,000 from Wandegeya to Ntinda, arguing that I need special treatment. When I said I didn’t have the money, he banged the door and injured my finger,†he adds.
Like Mugerwa, 4% of Ugandans have disabilities, according to the 2002 census report released by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics.
Going by the current estimates of 28 million Ugandans, this implies that about 1.12 million people have disabilities. These include those who are unable to hear, speak, see or walk properly.
Though the constitution assures them of equal rights with other Ugandans, they face discrimination.
According to the National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda (NUDIPU), on average 15 cases of discrimination are reported every month, mainly in Kampala.
“There are many people experiencing similar suffering but cannot speak out because they are ignorant of the law,†says Michael Ssebuliba, the NUDIPU Executive Director.
He notes that conductors have many times cheated visually impaired persons especially when they give them big currency notes.
Others are dropped at the wrong destination. sometimes they are denied access to public transport on grounds that they delay the conductors. Some have even had their wheelchairs confiscated because they could not afford the fare.
Other forms of discrimination include the design of public facilities, in such a way that people with disability (PWDs) cannot access them.
Ugandan roads do not have special lanes for them and many buildings have no provision for wheelchair users. There are even no special newspapers with brail to cater for visually impaired readers.
Esther Kyozira, the NUDIPU human rights advocacy co-ordinator, attributed this discrimination to laxity on the part of the Government.
“The United Nations passed a convention on the rights of persons with disabilities and Uganda witnessed the signing. but the Ugandan government has up to now not ratified the convention. This explains the attitude of the government towards PWDs,†said Kyozira. “Uganda has made several laws and policies that are meant to support the rights and development of PWDs. Unfortunately, the Government, through the mother ministry (gender, labour and social development), has done little to popularise these laws and this has left PWDs more vulnerable,†she added.
Article 22 of the Constitution states that no Ugandan should be discriminated against on the basis of sex, race, colour, ethnic origin, tribe, birth, creed or religion, or social or economic standing, political opinion or disability.
In addition, the Equal Opportunities Act 2006 prohibits discrimination on account of tribe, disability, age or any other factor.
The state minister for the elderly and PWDs, Suleiman Madada, says he will work with the Uganda Taxi Operators and Drivers Association (UTODA) to curb discrimination against people with disabilities.
He says the government has embarked on an intensive investigation in order to take action against the culprits and sensitise the public.
John Ndyomugenyi, the UTODA national chairman, says any taxi crew discriminating against people with disabilities should be reported to his office.
“PWDs are like babies who should be cared for every minute. We should join hands together with the Government and private companies to ensure that they are catered for in all aspects,†he said.
Mugerwa: a born fighter
By Vision Reporter
FRED Mugerwa’s pursuit of his rights knows no limits. In August 2002 Mugerwa, then 20, sued the Club Silk management for blocking him from entering the discotheque. Club Silk apologised, offered him life membership and topped that up with a million shillings.
Now Mugerwa, 25, a Makerere University law graduate, has sued a taxi driver, a conductor and a tout to court for discrimination.
Mugerwa was a bouncing and energetic boy until the age of three when he caught polio. “I loved running about and kicking things. Then I got a bout of fever,†said Mugerwa.
“At first my parents treated it like an ordinary fever. But the limbs were paralysed and not even the efforts of Mulago Hospital orthopedic consultant David Belsha could correct the situation.â€
His father, Wilfred Mukasa, is a mechanic and a the chauffeur of the Ethiopian ambassador. His mother, Margaret Ndagire, runs a shop at the Kirumira Towers.
With four brothers and four sisters who were ready to assist him, combined with the short distance from their Ntinda home to Kalinabiri Primary School, Mugerwa embarked on a school life like any other child with just a slight physical inconvenience.
However, it is not always easy to get by. Public toilets usually do not make enough provisions for him and they are sometimes very dirty. So, when the call of nature ambushes him in the middle of the city, he goes to places such as the Sheraton Hotel.
Mugerwa, is single and searching. He had a girlfriend but she went abroad for studies and they lost contact. He likes participating in charity walks and plays pool. And yes. He goes dancing but does not take alcohol.
and Gershom Musamali
FRED Mugerwa woke up on a sunny day to go for studies at the Law Development Centre. As he tried to board a taxi at Wandegeya, a Kampala suburb, the conductor slammed the door in his face. Mugerwa then got on the next taxi to the city centre and ensured that the Police impounded the offending vehicle and the crew was subsequently arrested.
Mugerwa has also petitioned the Human Rights Commission, arguing that the taxi crew discriminated against him because of his disability.
“That day will never get out of my mind. I thought I didn’t deserve to live when the conductor shouted at me, saying he does not carry lame people in his vehicle,†says Mugerwa.
“When I pleaded with him, he demanded for sh5,000 from Wandegeya to Ntinda, arguing that I need special treatment. When I said I didn’t have the money, he banged the door and injured my finger,†he adds.
Like Mugerwa, 4% of Ugandans have disabilities, according to the 2002 census report released by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics.
Going by the current estimates of 28 million Ugandans, this implies that about 1.12 million people have disabilities. These include those who are unable to hear, speak, see or walk properly.
Though the constitution assures them of equal rights with other Ugandans, they face discrimination.
According to the National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda (NUDIPU), on average 15 cases of discrimination are reported every month, mainly in Kampala.
“There are many people experiencing similar suffering but cannot speak out because they are ignorant of the law,†says Michael Ssebuliba, the NUDIPU Executive Director.
He notes that conductors have many times cheated visually impaired persons especially when they give them big currency notes.
Others are dropped at the wrong destination. sometimes they are denied access to public transport on grounds that they delay the conductors. Some have even had their wheelchairs confiscated because they could not afford the fare.
Other forms of discrimination include the design of public facilities, in such a way that people with disability (PWDs) cannot access them.
Ugandan roads do not have special lanes for them and many buildings have no provision for wheelchair users. There are even no special newspapers with brail to cater for visually impaired readers.
Esther Kyozira, the NUDIPU human rights advocacy co-ordinator, attributed this discrimination to laxity on the part of the Government.
“The United Nations passed a convention on the rights of persons with disabilities and Uganda witnessed the signing. but the Ugandan government has up to now not ratified the convention. This explains the attitude of the government towards PWDs,†said Kyozira. “Uganda has made several laws and policies that are meant to support the rights and development of PWDs. Unfortunately, the Government, through the mother ministry (gender, labour and social development), has done little to popularise these laws and this has left PWDs more vulnerable,†she added.
Article 22 of the Constitution states that no Ugandan should be discriminated against on the basis of sex, race, colour, ethnic origin, tribe, birth, creed or religion, or social or economic standing, political opinion or disability.
In addition, the Equal Opportunities Act 2006 prohibits discrimination on account of tribe, disability, age or any other factor.
The state minister for the elderly and PWDs, Suleiman Madada, says he will work with the Uganda Taxi Operators and Drivers Association (UTODA) to curb discrimination against people with disabilities.
He says the government has embarked on an intensive investigation in order to take action against the culprits and sensitise the public.
John Ndyomugenyi, the UTODA national chairman, says any taxi crew discriminating against people with disabilities should be reported to his office.
“PWDs are like babies who should be cared for every minute. We should join hands together with the Government and private companies to ensure that they are catered for in all aspects,†he said.
Mugerwa: a born fighter
By Vision Reporter
FRED Mugerwa’s pursuit of his rights knows no limits. In August 2002 Mugerwa, then 20, sued the Club Silk management for blocking him from entering the discotheque. Club Silk apologised, offered him life membership and topped that up with a million shillings.
Now Mugerwa, 25, a Makerere University law graduate, has sued a taxi driver, a conductor and a tout to court for discrimination.
Mugerwa was a bouncing and energetic boy until the age of three when he caught polio. “I loved running about and kicking things. Then I got a bout of fever,†said Mugerwa.
“At first my parents treated it like an ordinary fever. But the limbs were paralysed and not even the efforts of Mulago Hospital orthopedic consultant David Belsha could correct the situation.â€
His father, Wilfred Mukasa, is a mechanic and a the chauffeur of the Ethiopian ambassador. His mother, Margaret Ndagire, runs a shop at the Kirumira Towers.
With four brothers and four sisters who were ready to assist him, combined with the short distance from their Ntinda home to Kalinabiri Primary School, Mugerwa embarked on a school life like any other child with just a slight physical inconvenience.
However, it is not always easy to get by. Public toilets usually do not make enough provisions for him and they are sometimes very dirty. So, when the call of nature ambushes him in the middle of the city, he goes to places such as the Sheraton Hotel.
Mugerwa, is single and searching. He had a girlfriend but she went abroad for studies and they lost contact. He likes participating in charity walks and plays pool. And yes. He goes dancing but does not take alcohol.