Arua Inclusive Education Programme targets learners with disabilities

What the report says

A one-year inclusive education initiative has been launched in Arua City, Uganda, to support children and youths with disabilities through school support, caregiver empowerment and disability-rights awareness. The Community-Driven Inclusive Education Programme, or COPED, is being implemented by Action for Transformation of Youths with Disability (ACT-YOD) and is funded by Fund Global Human Rights at a reported cost of US$10,000.

According to The Independent Uganda, the programme is expected to reach 804 direct participants. These include 387 learners with disabilities from Ediofe Girls Primary School and Arua Parents Primary School, 387 parents and caregivers, and 60 teachers who will receive sign language training to better support learners with hearing impairments. ACT-YOD said the effort is intended to reduce barriers that keep learners with disabilities from enrolling in school, staying in school and completing their education.

The project began in July 2026 with assessments and planning and is scheduled to run until July 2027. It will also establish Disability Clubs in the two schools and support parents and caregivers through savings groups and livelihood skills. School and local education officials welcomed the initiative, noting that staffing shortages and limited specialist support remain challenges for inclusive education.

The report places the programme in a wider national context of disability inclusion in Uganda, where many children with disabilities remain out of school. More broadly, inclusive education efforts are often aimed at improving access, reducing stigma and helping schools adapt to learners with different needs.