Uganda to host finance meeting for PWDs
Oct 29, 2014
Uganda will next month host the first ever conference on microfinance and disability.
By Oyet Okwera
Uganda will next month host the first ever conference on microfinance and disability.
The November 11 - 12 conference will be hosted by the government in collaboration with the Association of Microfinance Institutions of Uganda (AMFIU) and the National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda (NUDIPU).
It will be orgnanised under the theme: "Making Microfinance work for the Un-served; Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities"
Speaking to the media, David Baguma the executive director, Association of Microfinance Institutions of Uganda (AMFIU) said the conference will include presentation of business practices, research and innovations in microfinance.
“As we converge at this conference on microfinance and disability on November 11th-12th, we should all influence the private sector towards working with small businesses including those run by people with disabilities as a win win situation that opens doors to a whole new range of clients,” he said
Baguma observed that in Uganda people with disabilities are discriminated against and face barriers when accessing financial services, education, employment, health care, and transportation among others.
Edson Ngirabakunzi, National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda (NUDIPU) executive director said, “people with disability have a fundamental right to benefit from services but it is not automatic due to many underlying gaps in information and challenges of marginalization.”
Ngirabakunzi also cited physical infrastructure as a challenge because some buildings do not have infrastructural provisions for people with disability. He also castigated the attitude of some people who believe that people with disability have nothing to offer to communities where they live.
He said the conference will provide a platform through which stakeholders will reflect on challenges and forge ways of fighting issues affecting people with disability.
Samson Otoo, a businessman with disability said they are facing challenges of financial exclusions. Otoo noted that some financial institutions support financial inclusion but do the opposite when it comes to actual implementation of supporting those with disability.
Diana Nalwanga, a business woman with disability in Kampala urged microfinance institutions to have special considerations for those with disability since they can also influence business in communities where they live.
Nalwanga said many people with disability are not given chance to start own projects and most of them end up as beggars on the streets of Kampala.
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