Provide Constitution for visually impaired - Government

May 21, 2014

The Government wants the Constitution of Uganda to be translated into Braille language to enable those with visual impairment be able to read and understand it.

By Paul Kiwuuwa

The Government wants the Constitution of Uganda to be translated into braille language to enable those with visual impairment be able to read and understand it.

Braille is a form of writing for blind people, in which characters are represented by patterns of raised dots that are felt with the fingertips.

The state minister for the elderly and disabled, Sulaiman Madada, said "The special copy of the Constitution called a 'tactical paper ' will involve codes for identifying the constitutional provisional of the supreme law. The visually-impaired will feel the code by touching the ballot paper, which has been inscribed in form of brail for easy identification.”

He added “The cabinet is considering translating the Constitution into major local languages including braille language to enable those with visual impairment be able to read and understand it and also include the other forms of sign languages for the deaf.”

According to Madada “Braille is a code by which all languages may be written and read. Through the use of Braille blind, blind people are able to review and study the written word. Braille provides a vehicle for literacy and gives an individual the ability to become familiar with spelling, punctuation, paragraphing and other formatting considerations.”

He said the blind also have a right to read and understand the Constitution. “Many societies are recognising the need to dismantle other barriers - making the 1995 Constitution of Uganda better read and understood by people with disabilities at the various Local Council levels, will promote literacy and promote equitable access to education and training for all disadvantaged groups,” Madada said.

Madada said this while inoculating the programmes for Uganda to host the sixth Africa Forum on Blindness scheduled to take place at the Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala in October. Madada who was the chief guest of the preparations of hosting the Forum at Uganda National Association of the Blind (UNAB) headquarters in Kireka, a city suburb.

“The forum will host over 200 guests from various countries with a focus on post-millennium development goals for the visually impaired.”