NUDIPU urges leaders to form Disability unions at the District level

The National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda ( NUDIPU),  has tasked the Zombo District Local Government, to form the District Union of Disabled Persons which is missing in the District. #WhisperEyeNews #UgandaNews #Uganda

Established in 1987, the National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda (NUDIPU),  is an umbrella organization with a vision of having dignity for every person with a disability. It exists to advocate for the rights of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in a unified voice for improved livelihoods. This is pursued through participation in policy planning, information sharing and optimizing knowledge and skills inherent among stakeholders, capacity building, awareness enhancement and resource mobilization according to the NUDIPU website.

During the disability awareness and inclusion training organised by a non-governmental organization called Cordaid Uganda that brought together district leaders,  A section of PWD  leaders, and Officials from NUDIPU, it was realized that, unlike other Districts, The leadership of the District Union of Persons with disabilities is missing in Zombo which according to Denis Odwar of NUDIPU,  is creating a gap in coordination, awareness and other developmental activities that concerns a person with Disabilities.

Odwar also commended  Cordaid Uganda, For Organising such an inclusion and awareness training that is intended to champion the Ideals of PWDs.

” Lack of good structure of disability leadership in Zombo is a very big challenge, and you see that persons with disabilities are actually not very organized in terms of passing information, creating awareness at the community level. We call upon the district Leadership to come out with a disability union that can really help them to follow up on key developments” Odwar stressed

Zombo District has more than 400 PWDs. Recently concerns emerged from a section of the  PWDs in the District about what they claim difficulties in accessing their 10% allocation of  PDM funds. They blamed the District technocrats for too much red tape thus making many lose interest.

NUDIPU strategic plan 2020-2024 highlights progressive commitment on the part of the government through legislative and policy frameworks which promote and protect the rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The LCV chairperson of Zombo James Oruna Oyullu acknowledged the concerns raised about the missing Disability union. He assured NUDIPU officials of their commitment towards the   Union’s formation.

” I got one thing that we are supposed to have District Union of persons with Disabilities, So as District with your Help, we shall take it up,” Oyullu said

With a population of more than 4.5 million people representing 12.4 per cent of the country’s Population, the National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda (NUDIPU) is an umbrella organization that advocates for the inclusion of Persons with Disabilities and their concerns in the mainstream development processes from national to grass root level.

“The Deputy Resident District Commissioner of Zombo, Grace Atim, said ” Today together with you I think, we have learnt that a lot still needs to be done, We should move away from integration to inclusion. It’s not going to be easy but every journey  starts with one step.” Atim said.

The organization derives its mandate from the full membership of more than 130 districts  Unions of persons with disabilities in the country and 9 national disabled people’s organizations (DPOs). It is mandated to promote an enabling environment for PWDs through policy advocacy, empowering its constituency, and facilitating cooperation between DPOs, communities, Government, development partners, and the private sector in Uganda.

To realize its vision and mission, NUDIPU undertakes broad programmes such as Human rights advocacy which includes advocating for better service delivery from both government and non-governmental organizations, and provision of legal aid to PWDs amongst others.