Uganda: Govt Teams Up With Local NGO to Launch Disability Strategic Plan in Nakivale

What the report says

Uganda’s Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development has partnered with Humanity & Inclusion to launch the National Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Strategic Plan 2026-2030, according to Nile Post, as distributed by AllAfrica. The plan was unveiled this week in Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Isingiro District and is designed to improve disability inclusion, expand access to healthcare and strengthen rehabilitation services for refugees and surrounding host communities.

The initiative will be implemented through the Health, Empowerment and Rehabilitation Teamwork project, with a focus on people in Nakivale and nearby areas. Humanity & Inclusion said the programme is expected to reach more than 5,600 people, including 540 persons with disabilities. The organisation and government said the work will also benefit host communities, not only settlement residents.

A major part of the plan addresses shortages of assistive devices and the poor condition of equipment such as wheelchairs, crutches and other mobility aids. Planned regional warehouse hubs are meant to make repair, servicing and storage easier and closer to beneficiaries. Officials also said government is preparing a process to assess persons with disabilities and provide assistive devices under the National Special Grant.

The report also highlighted a broader challenge: weak disability data, which can make it harder to identify needs and plan services. In general, the launch reflects ongoing efforts in Uganda to improve rehabilitation systems and economic inclusion for persons with disabilities, especially in refugee-hosting districts.