The Director Mobilisation, Cadre Development and Recruitment in the ruling NRM party, Hon. Mathias Kasamba has urged people living with disabilities to start income-generating activities to boost their livelihood.
While speaking at a function to mark this year’s International Day of persons with disabilities (PWDs) at the NRM secretariat under the theme ‘’Promoting the participation of people with disabilities in the leadership,’’ Kasamba said PWDs should form SACCOs to access government funds for community development.
‘’I urge persons with disabilities who are out there to come out and embrace what the world has to offer and get involved in various activities to live a happy life. I implore you to form SACCOs, cooperatives and community development networks such that government can help you,’’ ‘’The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development,’’ he said ‘’has good programmes for special interest groups (women, youth and PWDs).’’
Referring to this year’s commemoration themed ‘’ Promoting the participation of people with disabilities in leadership,’’ Mr Kasamba who doubles as Member of East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) asked PWDs to take up leadership roles at all levels referring to himself as the living example, adding that ‘’ people with disabilities are special people in a society who do strange things yet they lack some specific features on their bodies. He, therefore, asked them to fight for their rights to avoid the risks of being marginalised.’’
He, however, thanked the government to bring on board such people through forming committees of people with disabilities at the local council level. He also promised to roll out a programme to teach people how to embrace the economic potentials Uganda has to be part of the money economy.
Kasamba rallied people to vote NRM candidates in Kampala and all other parts of the country at all levels to enable government work collaboratively with these leaders to deliver services.
The International Day for Persons with Disabilities is celebrated on December 3rd every year. The day is commemorated to bridge the gap between the persons with disabilities and the non-disabled and most importantly to emphasise that disability is not inability.
