By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
KAMPALA
On Monday (November 4), the Electoral Commission (EC) commenced a nationwide exercise to identify and map Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) on the National Voters Register. The mapping exercise, which aims to ensure that the needs of PWDs are taken into account for more accessible and inclusive elections is expected to run for seven days until November 13.
During this period, the EC will conduct village council meetings across parishes to identify PWDs and register PWDs in their respective areas.
Although the EC says the exercise will close in seven days, there are dissenting voices who claim that the seven days period is insufficient for registration of all Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the country.
Maxensia Takirambule, the National Secretary for Persons with Disabilities of the Democratic Party says that a single week is inadequate for capturing a comprehensive representation of PWDs in Uganda, given the variety of barriers that individuals face. According to Takirambule, many PWDs face logistical and accessibility challenges that make it difficult to participate in short-term exercises.
“The Electoral Commission should view this process as continuous,” she urged.
She noted that ongoing engagement and mapping would better accommodate PWDs and allow for updates and adjustments as their needs evolve in order to ensure inclusion in elections.
The Democratic Party has also recommended that the EC integrate and synchronize this collected data with the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) database where possible. However, Takirambule cautioned against over-reliance on NIRA’s records, citing inconsistencies in PWD data. This step, she argued, would require the EC to establish a more proactive approach, going beyond current data and ensuring continuous interaction and updates.
