By: Melanie Aanyu

President Museveni has directed the Minister of State for Disability to draft a Cabinet paper, indicating a strategy on prevention and management of disabilities in Uganda.

According to the President, his government has demonstrated that disability can be prevented by getting rid of diseases such as polio and measles.

The President made the call yesterday while addressing about 300 leaders of People with Disabilities (PWDs) from eastern and central region, who have been attending a one-week retreat at the National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi.

He noted that some of disability-causing diseases such as Spina Bifida, Hydrocephalus, and Cerebral palsy are detectable and preventable at early stages while conditions such as autism, Down syndrome and Deaf-blindness that are not easily detected can be managed.

Statistics from the Uganda Bureau of Statistics Census Report for 2016 indicate that 12.4 percent (about 4.5 million) of the Ugandan population has some form of disability.

The State Minister for Disability, Ms Grace Asamo,  proposed to the NRM party to have the retreat carried out annually for people with disabilities.