Green Environment Promotion (GEP), a local conservationist organization operating in the Rubanda district has launched the distribution of about 500 wheelchairs in the districts of the Kigezi Sub Region to people living with disabilities.

The move will assist PWDs in mobility and accessibility to other opportunities such as studies, workplaces, engagement in social and cultural activities, and services such as health care.

During the door-to-door distribution of wheelchairs that started today in the Rubanda district, most of the people living with disability decried being left out on government programs saying that the government has overtime created wealth-creation programs that have ended up benefiting only corrupt authorities at the district level not going deep to parish and village level. These said that due to their vulnerability, they have always had mobility challenges limiting their access to some places such as hospitals, worshipping centers, market places among others.

Rovinah Atuhaire, a 40 years old resident of Rushekye A, Karengere parish, Muko Sub-county in Rubanda district says that she has never benefited from any government program, a thing that demotivated her from getting involved in other such programs. She accuses some leaders in the district of neglecting them in such important programs.

Atuhaire further says that because of her condition, she has always wanted to shift to a place near the main road for easier movement but now that she has received a wheelchair, life could get better for her.

Some of the other beneficiaries that received wheelchairs from the Green Environment Promotion say that they encounter several challenges of accessibility in many aspects of their lives, including navigating physical facilities, finding employment, and having access to adequate healthcare services. The PWDs further decried limited support in areas of education, financial hardship, and mental health challenges.

The President and founder of GEP, Evelyn Ninsiima Kikafunda says that they have been working with local communities for over 15 years now championing sustainable development fronting every category of people. Kikafunda adds that she has launched the distribution of 450 wheelchairs to identified families with PWDS in Kigezi to enhance their capability to prosper.

Kikafunda further says that the government has provided good wealth creation programs though their impact is not so felt on the ground since the beneficiaries do not speak out.

The Uganda Bureau of Statistics Census Report (UBOS 2016) indicated that 12.4% of the Ugandan population lives with some form of disability implying that approximately 4.5 million Ugandans are persons with disability hence a development concern.

Job Namanya,