Who is this useful for?
People with deafblindness, parents teachers, and the general public
The Persons with Disability Act, 2020 also plays a crucial role in advocating for the rights and needs of persons with disabilities. Understanding rights and how to navigate the systems in Uganda will help ensure that persons with disabilities receive the necessary support and services. The rights of persons with disabilities and non-discrimination is also crucial for promoting inclusivity and equality.
1. Equal Rights for Persons with Disabilities
People with disabilities have the same rights and freedoms as everyone else. These rights must be respected by the government and all people in Uganda.
2. Family Life
People with disabilities have the right to have a home and start a family, get married and raise children and not be separated from their children unless a court decides it’s best for the child.
Parents or guardians must take good care of children with disabilities.
3. No Abuse or Bad Treatment
People with disabilities must not be tortured or treated badly, used in medical tests without their permission, forced to follow harmful traditional practices and sterilized without their agreement.
4. Education
Schools must accept children with disabilities, make changes so children with disabilities can learn (e.g., ramps, sign language) and give equal opportunities in sports and activities.
It is against the law to stop a child with a disability from going to school.
5. Health Services
Hospitals and clinics must treat people with disabilities equally, have wheelchairs, special beds, and tables for them and provide free or cheap creams for people with albinism and tools/devices for others with disabilities.
Parents must take their children with disabilities for treatment and vaccines like all other children.
6. Help and Support
The government must provide services to help people with disabilities grow and recover and tell families and communities about these services.
7. Jobs and Workplaces
Employers must not refuse to hire someone because they have a disability, pay less or treat them unfairly and deny them promotions or training.
Employers should make the workplace suitable for employees with disabilities (e.g., tools, working hours) and be encouraged to hire people with disabilities.
8. Buildings
All public buildings must have ramps and toilets that are easy for people with disabilities to use and have parking spaces for them, marked with “PWD”.
People without disabilities must not use these special parking spaces.
9. Transport
Public transport (like buses or taxis) must carry people with disabilities without extra charges for wheelchairs or other devices and not refuse to take them.
10. Other Services
Shops and businesses must treat people with disabilities equally and not make it hard for them to use services.
TV stations must show sign language during news programs.
11. Police and Court Help
People with blindness/low vision can identify suspects by voice or touch, the government must train police and judges about how to help people with disabilities and government information should be in braille or other accessible forms.
12. Fair Opportunities
The government must hire people with disabilities in public jobs and report every two years on how they are helping.
For a detailed version of the Act, please follow the link below: