PWDs want government to expeditious amend their 2006 Act

 

They say the act does not clearly spell out matters that affect them, like the punishments to be given to people who are still holding their children at home without taking them to school.

 

“Currently there are some parents who are still locking their children in their homes without taking them to school, but the law does not indicate the type of punishment that should be given to such parents, the director Uganda National Association of the Deaf (UNAD), Ambrose Murangira explained.

 

Murangira said issues like sign language interpreters who are meant to be provided to the deaf persons in institutions like hospitals, universities, churches and community occasions are not provided for them, yet this is one of the provisions in the Act.  He emphasised that some buildings do not have rumps for the lame, and no toilet facilities as well.

 

 “We realised that there are gaps in the PWDs Act, different issues have to be categorised according to each disabled person’s needs, when amendment of the Act comes into force, a lot has to be considered Murangira explained.

 

During the commissioning of four mini movie series produced and directed by persons with visual impairments, deaf and lame, Murangira said the Bill should favor and benefit every disabled person.

 

The movies entitled Worshipping in Silence, and talented feet, featured the plight of PWDs and the challenges they go through. The movies were directed by Ugandans, South Africans and Malawians with the assistance of the Norwegian government.

 

Peter Ochieng one of the participants called on fellow persons with disabilities to use any part of their body to perform what they can do at their best.

 

“Do not wait to be fed use whatever talent you have to earn a living,” Ochieng told his colleagues. 

While addressing the press Murangira revealed that under the category of the deaf, accessing radio information is difficult, while for the blind their challenges are different. “We need to breakdown these issues,” he emphasised.

 

The Woman Member of Parliament for Persons with disability, Sophia Nalule Kizito, also said government should intervene on matters affecting PWDs especially when amending the Buildings and Construction Bill 2006.

 

“Some of the up coming buildings in the city have not come up with facilities for Persons with disabilities yet this affects their mobility,” Nalule said.

 

The Buildings and Construction Bill will soon be tabled in Parliament.