Ronald Ndawula the Luweero LC 5 Chairman says that the ordinance will be forwarded to Solicitor General for advise before its implementation to ensure that it confirms and doesn’t contradict with National laws.
File Photo; MPS Representing PWDs greeting Vice President Edward Ssekandi at the International Day For Persons with Disabilities held at Kiwoko Church of Uganda Primary School in Nakaseke district.
Luweero district council has passed an ordinance that seeks to
empower and promote inclusion of People with Disabilities-PWDs in service
delivery.
According to the Luweero District ordinance 2019, at least 10% of all district
budget allocations will go to PWDs and projects must be responsive to their
needs.
The entire district departments shall make specific vote on issues of persons
with disabilities to address their sexual and reproductive health, education,
employment, health and economic needs among others.
The district shall ensure that all health centres are easily accessible and
adjustable labour bed must be provided to expectant Women with disabilities.
The Ordinance adds that the District Planner shall be required to present certificate
of gender and equity compliance before any budget is adopted and passed by
district council.
The ordinance condemns persons impregnating women with Disabilities and introduces
punishment to those abandon them.
According to ordnance, any person who breaches any provision of the ordinance
shall be liable to fine of 200,000 shillings or imprisonment for six months or
both.
The ordinance was tabled by Abbey Ssozi the Luweero District Councillor for
Wobulenzi town council and it was unanimously passed by the councillors.
Herbert Ssekabira the Male District Councillor for PWDs says that the ordinance
will help in fight against discrimination and ensure equal distribution of
resources to PWDs.
Deborah Nalubega the Female District Councillor for PWDS explains that PWDs
have been side-lined in many government programmes and the intention of the
ordinance is to compel department heads ensure that they are considered.
Nalubega says that although some of the provisions are captured in
National policies they weren’t enforceable over lack of serious penalties.
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Ronald Ndawula the Luweero LCV Chairperson Luweero says that ordinance will be
forwarded to Solicitor General for advice to ensure that it confirms and
doesn’t contradict with National laws.
Allan Kabaale a lawyer and activist for the lawyer say that some of provisions
in the ordinance have been domesticated from International Statutes and
National Policies to ensure it confirms with the National laws.
Kabaale adds that the ordinance seeks to remind the residents and local leaders
that even PWDs are equal to others.
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Other Persons with Disabilities led by Ivan Mbogo, the Chairperson of Kikyusa
Sub County Persons living with Disabilities Association say the ordinance will
help them overcome daily challenges and help them to demand for better services
like other persons.
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Recently Members of Parliament and Persons with Disabilities appealed to
central government to increase budgetary allocation for special grant to 10
billion shillings.
Since the Special grant for Persons with disabilities became operational in
2011, the government has been allocating three billion shillings annually.
But the MPs and Persons living with disabilities say low budgetary allocation
has retarded transformation of the group. The 2014 National Housing and
Population Census, indicates that 5.6 million people (14.82 per cent) of
Uganda's total population of 37.78 million people live with disabilities.
