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By Spy Uganda
The Uganda Media Women’s Association (UMWA), in partnership with the National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda (NUDIPU) and the East African Centre for Disability Law and Policy (EA-CDLP), has called on journalists and media editors to promote disability-inclusive reporting and amplify the voices of persons with disabilities across Uganda.
The call was made during a media engagement held on Thursday at Hotel Africana in Kampala, bringing together journalists, editors, disability rights advocates, and representatives from organizations championing inclusion and accessibility.
The engagement focused on strengthening ethical and inclusive journalism practices, with organizers emphasizing the media’s critical role in shaping public perception, influencing policy, and promoting equal representation for marginalized communities.
Speaking during the event, UMWA Board Vice Chairperson Ms Joan Comfort said the organization is currently implementing a one-year project aimed at accelerating disability inclusion in government planning and budgeting processes.
“Disability-inclusive reporting is not charity; it is responsible journalism. The media has the power to shape perceptions, amplify diverse voices, and ensure that persons with disabilities are visible, heard, and represented with dignity,” she said.
Ms Comfort noted that despite progress in national policy discussions, persons with disabilities continue to face underrepresentation and negative portrayal in mainstream media coverage.
“The Coalition has observed that persons with disabilities are often underreported in the media and even when they are reported about, they are sometimes depicted using negative stereotypes that reinforce harmful attitudes and societal misconceptions,” she added.
According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) National Population and Housing Census report, persons with disabilities constitute 13.2 percent of Uganda’s population, underscoring the need for more inclusive communication and representation in the media.
Participants at the engagement urged journalists to adopt respectful and appropriate language when reporting on disability-related issues. Facilitators emphasized that media practitioners should avoid portraying persons with disabilities as helpless, dependent, or burdensome, and instead focus on rights, accessibility, inclusion, and equal participation in society.
Journalists were encouraged to “report disability, not define people by disability,” while strengthening collaboration with organizations representing persons with disabilities to ensure accuracy, sensitivity, and balanced reporting.
The discussions also highlighted the daily challenges faced by persons with disabilities in Uganda, including inaccessible public buildings, poor infrastructure, limited mobility support, and inadequate seating arrangements in many institutions.
Speakers observed that many public spaces and government facilities are still designed without considering accessibility needs, making movement difficult for people using wheelchairs, crutches, and other mobility aids.
Concerns were further raised over inadequate communication support during public events and government programs, particularly the absence or ineffective use of sign language interpreters, which often excludes persons with hearing impairments from important national conversations.
The engagement also explored various forms of disabilities, including physical disabilities, visual and hearing impairments, intellectual and developmental disabilities, psychosocial disabilities, and other long-term health conditions that affect participation in everyday life.
Participants further cited challenges in accessing healthcare, noting that some persons with disabilities continue to rely on outdated medication and limited specialized medical services.
Ms Joan Mbabazi, Communications Officer at NUDIPU, urged journalists to actively highlight barriers affecting children with disabilities, particularly in education.
“Braille machines and paper remain costly for many children in school, limiting their right to quality education. As media, you must take keen interest in highlighting these challenges and capturing the attention of policymakers to drive change,” she said.
Officials at the engagement emphasized that disability issues often remain underreported because persons with disabilities are wrongly overlooked as active contributors to society.
Laila Ndagire, an official from UMWA, urged journalists to use their platforms responsibly in challenging stereotypes and changing public attitudes toward disability.
“Stereotypes about persons with disabilities are everywhere in society and as journalists we should work towards changing that. What is said on radio, television, or written in newspapers is often taken as the truth, so we must be careful not to reinforce negative stereotypes,” she said.
Participants also stressed the importance of directly involving persons with disabilities in television talk shows, radio discussions, and newspaper opinion panels instead of merely reporting about them from a distance.
“Nothing about us without us,” one participant remarked, emphasizing the importance of inclusion in conversations affecting persons with disabilities.
Mr Nangosi David from NUDIPU said societal attitudes and inaccessible environments often create greater barriers than disability itself.
“Society is often more disabling than disability itself through negative attitudes, inaccessible environments, and communication barriers. True inclusion begins when we remove these barriers and recognize the dignity and value of every person,” he said.
The organizers noted that improving disability-inclusive reporting would help challenge stereotypes, raise public awareness, and influence more inclusive government policies and budgeting decisions.
The engagement forms part of broader efforts by UMWA, NUDIPU, and EA-CDLP to promote equitable representation and ensure disability inclusion becomes a mainstream issue within Uganda’s governance and development agenda.
, https://www.spyuganda.com/report-disability-with-dignity-media-urged-to-change-narrative-on-pwds/
