KWANIA, July 16, 2026 — Persons with Disabilities [ PWDs ] in Kwania district, northern Uganda, have decried what they describe as widespread discrimination and exclusion from key government wealth creation programmes operating in the district.
Although the government has introduced funding to support PWDs through the Parish Development Model [PDM] and the Special Grant for PWDs, members of the vulnerable group claim that these initiatives have, over time, benefited only corrupt officials at the district level.
The PWDs say their vulnerability and mobility challenges have limited their access to places such as health facilities, places of worship, subcounty offices and markets, where information about these programmes is often disseminated.
Veronica Akello, a 46-year-old visually impaired resident of Acenwloro Parish in Atongtidi Subcounty, said she has never benefited from any government programme.
“They have been compiling our names, promising to give us money through the PDM and other government programmes, but nothing has happened. Maybe they don’t like us because of our condition,” she said.
Nelson Sadam Abili, the councillor representing Persons with Disabilities on Kwania District Council, acknowledged receiving numerous complaints from PWDs over the issue.
“Poultry were recently distributed to more than 500 beneficiaries in the district, but nobody thought about the PWDs. We have been completely excluded from the PDM. I appeal to the district leadership to consider our people,” he said.
Moses Opio, a representative from the Kwania District Community Development Department, said the department is constrained by inadequate resources to address the challenges facing PWDs in the district.
“We are trying our best to support this vulnerable group, but the department receives only Shs 2 million as a sector grant to run all its activities. In the last financial year, we managed to procure only one wheelchair. However, their concerns about being excluded from government programmes will be addressed soon,” he said.
Catharine Akello, the Kwania District Principal Commercial Officer and PDM focal person, was unavailable for comment by the time this story was filed.
Ceasar Obada, the Assistant Resident District Commissioner for Kwania, encouraged PWDs to form or join enterprise groups to enable them to benefit from the programme.
“PDM funds are disbursed through enterprise groups. We encourage PWDs to form or join local groups so they can access the funding. Up to 20 percent of PDM funds are ring-fenced for PWDs to ensure they are not left behind,” he said in a recent telephone interview with this reporter.
The Parish Development Model is a Ugandan government socio-economic strategy launched in February 2022 to transition 3.5 million households from subsistence farming into the money economy. The programme channels publicly managed loans and services directly to communities through parish-level SACCOs.
According to the programme guidelines, PWDs are prioritised through a ring-fenced allocation in every PDM SACCO. Eligible beneficiaries are entitled to a Shs 1 million loan, in addition to a non-refundable grant of Shs 500,000 to cater for disability-related expenses.
https://thecooperator.news/museveni-warns-leaders-on-monitoring-wealth-creation-programmes/
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