KAMPALA
Kyambogo University is set to host the first East African Conference on Disability Inclusive Higher Education from Wednesday, November 13th to 14th 2024. The event aims to address and enhance disability inclusion in higher education across the region.
While addressing media,the Vice Chancellor of Kyambogo University, Prof. Dr. Eli Katunguka-Rwakishaya, expressed the university’s enthusiasm for the two-day conference. The event is expected to feature Mama Janet Kataha Museveni, the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, as the Chief Guest at the opening ceremony. Prof Katunguka also noted that there will be a pre-conference dinner on Tuesday, 12th November at Protea Hotel Kampala, with the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa as the Chief Guest.
“Kyambogo University has long been at the forefront of disability inclusion in Uganda. The university’s Faculty of Special Needs and Rehabilitation, which has its roots dating back to 1988, is the only academic entity in Uganda with a statutory mandate to train personnel in special needs education, disability studies, rehabilitation, and other fields of disability inclusion. Currently, the university enrolls 241 students with various disabilities across its 12 schools and faculties” said Katunguka.
Notably, Kyambogo University is the first institution in the country to implement an Institutional Disability Policy and establish a Disability Resource Center. This center, under the Vice Chancellor’s office, coordinates support services for students and staff with disabilities, ensuring they receive the accommodations needed to fully participate in the university environment.
Prof.Katunguka noted that the upcoming conference will serve as a platform for critical intellectual engagement, networking, advocacy, and knowledge sharing among scholars and practitioners from East Africa and beyond. It also marks the revival of the East African Linkage on inclusive education, a partnership that previously included institutions from Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The conference seeks to promote disability awareness and support for inclusion in higher education institutions.
