NCPD wants its budget increased
KOLE-The chairperson National Council for Persons with Disabilities [ NCPD ], Yona Waiswa has called upon the government to increase funding for the statutory body so that it can perform its duties better.
According to Waiswa, NCPD receives only Shs 1.2 billion per financial year, which he said is not enough in mobilising persons with disabilities [PWDs] at all levels to participate in government programmes.
Using the said funds, Waiswa said UCPD is expected to build the capacity of the lower PWD councils but the money is not enough. He said the current budget allocation be increased to at least Shs 3bln.
Waiswa was speaking during the celebrations to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities [IDPD] held last weekend at Okole Primary School in Kole district where he said low funding has lowered NCPD’s capacity to monitor government programmes.
He said they are incapable of convening an annual meeting for disability leaders in the districts and cities for planning purposes.
“Whereas we support government’s plan to merge its agencies for effective service delivery, we want to appeal that our budget for NCPD should increase from the current Shs 1.2bln to Shs 3bln,” Waiswa added.
This, according Waiswa will facilitate the operation of the councils and the 448,000 PWD leaders in the districts and cities.
He also applauded government for including PWDs in the Parish Development Model [PDM].
Kole district Woman Member of Parliament, Judith Alyek who doubles as the chairperson Lango Parliamentary Group [LPG] urged government to establish schools for disabled children in every sub-county in the country and offer them grants to support their wellbeing while in school.
She said the government has dedicated grants for the elderly, and adult PWDs yet the young are not catered for.
The accession was officiated days ago by Vice President Jessica Alupo who pledged government’s commitment towards supporting persons with disabilities.
“I am also reliably informed that Uganda has become the 13th country globally to have a braille version of the Constitution and this is a big milestone for people with disabilities,” she said.
However, she said if Uganda is to reach inclusive development, PWDs deserve “opportunity not sympathy”.
The Uganda Bureau of Statistics census report 2016 showed that 12.4 percent of Ugandans live with some form of disability, implying that approximately 4.5 million Ugandans are PWDs hence a development concern.
Betty Amongi, the minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, said her ministry would ensure everybody, including the PWDs is included in the country’s development agenda.
During the celebrations, a revised National Policy on PWDs launched and will guide and inform the planning process, resource allocation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of activities with respect to PWDs.
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