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Mbale residents fault Custodian Board in sale of properties

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Our Reporter
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Officials from the Custodian Board defending themselves against the allegations

Property owners from Mbale town have accused the Departed Asians Property Custodian Board (DAPCB) for bungling up the sale and repossession of their properties.

Five property owners appeared before Parliament’s sub-committee on Commissions, Statutory and State Enterprises (COSASE) that is inquiring into sale and repossession of departed Asians properties, and said they had lost their property, spent large sums of money in court processes for property they had acquired lawfully.

Col. Christopher Achelam told the committee of how the DAPCB issued him a letter clearing his purchase of a house located on Plot 13 Peter Paul Lane, in Mbale district in 2007. The ownership of the house purchased from Allibhai Mohammed, is now in contention with the Board denying knowledge of Ache lam as the rightful owner.

Faridah Namukwaya told the committee that she is in fear of losing a house she inherited from her late husband, located on Plot 20 Peter Paul Lane Mbale, which according to the Custodian Board was fraudulently purchased.

The Board Executive Secretary, George William Bizibu explained that his predecessor, Abdul Byakatonda, who issued the said letter, will have to explain the grounds under which he cleared Col Achelam.

“According to the available records of which I am the custodian, this property does not have a certificate of repossession,” he said.

Bizibu said that the house claimed by Namukwaya was leased to three people, one of whom fraudulently sold it to her.

A long serving board member, Mama Joe who is said to have compiled a list of all certificates of repossession between 2005 and 2006 said there is no way they could have missed the property in contention whose certificate dates 2004.

The Chairperson of the sub-committee, Makindye East MP, Ibrahim Kasozi, faulted the DAPCB for acting irresponsibly and directed Byakatonda to appear before the sub-committee to explain the anomalies.

“I wonder what informed the chairperson to write this letter when the board doesn’t know. Let Mr, Byakatonda come to the committee and tell us why he issued this letter” said Kasozi.

The Committee directed the Board to assist persons who purchased property under their stewardship but are either in court or under pressure to vacate.

“We request the Custodian Board to reign in favorably to third party Ugandans without proper documents for possession, since the law also provides for third party owners,” said Muhammad Nsereko

The Board on the other hand complained of interference from the office of the Attorney General, in their attempt to help property owners with cases relating to repossession of certificates.

Bizibu further asked the committee to consider provision of private lawyers to assist the Custodian Board if they are to help property owners with disputes.

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Four bodies recovered, 30 missing after fresh Bududa landslide

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Our Reporter
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Terrified residents of Bushika in Bududa district

Four bodies have so far been recovered while more than 30 people are missing following yesterday’s fresh landslide that hit Bushika Sub County in Bududa district following the on-going heavy rains in the mountainous area.

The landslides swept 18 houses in Bunamasa and Naposhi villages in Bushika sub county, Bududa district following Tuesday’s heavy down pour that lasted for over 10 hours.

Police is on ground to help community members in the search for bodies and missing people but surprisingly officials from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) and Ministry of Disaster Preparedness and Refuges are yet to arrive at the scene.

Area Member of Parliament John Baptist Nambeshe faulted OPM for refusing to heed to his proposal of giving hard cash to people staying landslide prone areas to resettle themselves in safer places.

He says the idea of building houses at Bunambutye resettlement camp in Bulambuli is good but very slow.

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Godfrey Kirumira brags after fighting Gen Angina’s soldiers, ‘Am now a field martial’

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Our Reporter
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Godfrey Kirumira

City tycoon who doubles as the chairman of Bagagga Kwagalana group, Godfrey Kirumira, has bragged for battling out Uganda Peoples Defence forces (UPDF) soldiers attached to the deputy coordinator of Operation Wealth Creation (OWC), Lt. Gen. Charles Angina.

In November, Kirumira was involved in a land ownership brawl at International Hotel in Muyenga that brought him trouble, including the army beatings.

“I recently fought against Army general, I think am now a field marital, most people joke with me but am not that simple. Sembatya knows me.  I want to thank Kajoba, Posiano Ngabirano who witnessed me fighting against UPDF officers in the presence of police who feared to engage themselves in the battle.

Kirumira said he almost lost zeal he however, realized that his property may be taken under dubious circumstances, and this prompted him to generate more energy in the bid to protect his property.

Click on the link below to view video

“I said to myself that I can’t be robbed off a hotel I bought over 20 years. Someone bought off my neighbours mortgage from the bank and because he knows Gen. Angina, he thought he will take my land as well but I fought for my rights,” he said.

He said the army officers who were involved in the scum were later nabbed and taken to the military police, “who would do that. They can only fight me in media, but you can’t because I have done a lot and God loves me,” he said.

He encouraged people to build God’s houses in this country. “Don’t not only build churches, but mosques too, do it without hesitating and God will reward you,” he said.

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Shortlist of 2019 CAF Awards nominees unveiled

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Our Reporter
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caf awards 2019

The shortlist of nominees from various categories for the 28th edition of the annual CAF Awards was unveiled on Tuesday, 03 December following the completion of the first phase of the voting.

The shortlist of nominees was decided upon by votes from a CAF Technical & Development Committee and a panel of media experts with emphasis on the nominees’ performance of during the year under review, 2019.

The final phase of voting for the men’s and women’s African Player of the Year, as well as the male and female Coach of the Year,  will be selected by Head Coaches/Technical Directors and Captains of senior national teams from CAF Member Associations.

The Interclubs Player of the Year will be decided upon by the Head Coaches and Captains of the group phase of the current season of CAF Interclubs competitions.

The award winners for each category will be announced during the CAF Awards ceremony on Tuesday, 7 January 2020, at the Albatros Citadel Sahl Hasheesh, Hurghada, Egypt.

The event will celebrate African footballers and officials who have distinguished themselves during 2019. There will also be several new award categories in recognition of exceptional contributions to African football and inspiring individuals.

Full list of shortlists

Player of the Year

André Onana (Cameroon & Ajax)

Hakim Ziyech (Morocco & Ajax)

Ismail Bennacer (Algeria & AC Milan)

Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal & Napoli)

Mohamed Salah (Egypt & Liverpool)

Odion Ighalo (Nigeria & Shanghai Shenhua)

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon & Arsenal)

Riyad Mahrez (Algeria & Manchester City)

Sadio Mane (Senegal & Liverpool)

Youcef Belaili (Algeria & Ahli Jeddah)

Women’s Player of the Year

Ajara Nchout (Cameroon & Valerenga)

Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria & Barcelona)

Gabrielle Onguene (Cameroon & CSKA Moscow)

Tabitha Chawinga (Malawi & Jiangsu Suning)

Thembi Kgatlana (South Africa & Beijing Phoenix FC)

Interclubs Player of the Year

Anice Badri (Tunisia & Esperance)

Kodjo Fo Doh Laba (Togo & RS Berkane / Al Ain)

Taha Yassine Khenissi (Tunisia & Esperance)

Tarek Hamed (Egypt & Zamalek)

Youcef Belaïli (Algeria & Esperance / Ahli Jeddah)

Youth Player of the Year

Achraf Hakimi (Morocco & Borussia Dortmund)

Krépin Diatta (Senegal & Club Brugge)

Moussa Djenepo (Mali & Southampton)

Samuel Chukwueze (Nigeria & Villarreal)

Victor Osimhen (Nigeria & Lille)

Men’s Coach of the Year

Aliou Cisse (Senegal – Senegal)

Christian Gross (Switzerland – Zamalek)

Djamel Belmadi (Algeria – Algeria)

Moïne Chaâbani (Tunisia – Esperance)

Nicolas Dupuis (France – Madagascar)

Women’s Coach of the Year

Alain Djeumfa (Cameroon)

Bruce Mwape (Zambia)

Clementine Toure (Côte d’Ivoire)

Desiree Ellis (South Africa)

Thomas Dennerby (Nigeria)

Men’s National Team of the Year

Algeria

Madagascar

Nigeria

Senegal

Tunisia

Women’s National Team of the Year

Cameroon

Côte d’Ivoire

Nigeria

South Africa

Zambia

 

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Museveni conducting armed robbery in Uganda – Besigye claims

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Our Reporter
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Dr. Kiiza Besigye, the former FDC president

The former President of Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Rtd Col. Dr. Kizza Besigye, has alleged that “President Yoweri Museveni is conducting armed robbery in Uganda” which he said is a form of corruption, though he did not expound on the allegation.

In an interview with NTV in the morning at his Kasangati home that was surrounded by police and other security agents, Besigye said Ugandans must rise up against the guns in order to fight corruption in public offices.

But When asked to comment on Besigye’s allegation that Museveni was conducting armed robbery in Uganda, Senior Presidential Press Secretary Don Wanyama said: “Besigye seem not to understand Museveni and I think it is nonsense. Don Wanyama.”

“When the people whose resources are being stolen have no say then those who are doing it, will do it with impunity. The first institution in the fight against corruption should be the people,” Besigye said.

“It’s not surprising that today, those who challenge the thieves, the corrupt are the targets,” he added.

He said Ugandans have not been empowered to fight corruption and that the current government of NRM was using guns to deny them that power.

“In Uganda, no leader has ever left power peacefully, every leader has come to office by use of guns, force and has left office by use of force,” Besigye added.

Besigye said leaders and institutions in Uganda should be accountable to the people, which he said is not the case today, further claiming that some corrupt people in government fight Ugandans who are suffering from corruption.

“Once people are corrupt, those they steal from start suffering, when they come out to show their displeasure, those who are corrupt fight them,” Besigye said.

Museveni this morning led thousands of Ugandans in Kampala an Anti-Corruption Walk to show his commitment in the fight against corruption especially in public offices which has seen the country lose hundreds of billions of shillings over the decades he has been in power.

Uganda Police officers this morning surrounded Besigye’s home to block him from having a parallel Anti-Corruption Walk. But he beat security and found his way on the road. He was besieged at Mpererwe along Kampala Gayaza road. Besigye had scheduled to lead a parallel anti-corruption walk from his Katonga offices to the constitutional square.

Apart from Besigye, other people say Ugandans are not empowered to fight corruption.

“People are not empowered, they do not know that you can stand up, put your foot down and say no to taking bribes,” said Samantha Byarugaba, another official at Uganda Debt Network, a civil society organisation involved in the fight against the vice.

“Many times, people see corruption as taking bribes but corruption goes to the simplest of things, for example, If I have a company and I’m employing only my relatives, that is corruption” she said.

She said government should confront big government officers like ministers, MPs and others to show its commitment in the fight against corruption.

Get the corrupt and not the ‘small fishes’ because usually the blame is taken by the under dogs, then it disappears. Look for the ‘big dogs’, take punitive action, then Ugandans will be convinced – Samantha Byarugaba – Uganda Debt Network.

Ramadan Goobi, a lecturer at Makerere University Business School, has urged government to carry out property audit if it is to end the rampant corruption in the country. According to Goobi, owners of mansions and commercial buildings in Kampala and elsewhere in Uganda should be identified and tasked to explain where they got the money to set up the multi-billion shillings buildings.

A section of economic analysts also believe the community has promoted the vice by praising the corrupt who set a bad example, which makes making corruption acceptable.

But corruption in Uganda is not limited only to the public service. For example, yesterday the Allied Health Professional council discovered that a huge percentage of microscopes in several clinics in Kampala are faulty, meaning that many people are issued false results after testing their blood.

The Anti-Corruption featured members Museveni’s cabinet, civil service heads, political appointees like RDCs, diplomats, media, religious leaders, students, civil society organisations, private sector, traditional leaders, the army and police and of course Ugandans.

The Minister of State for Ethics & Integrity, Simon Lokodo has praised President Yoweri Museveni’s stand against corruption in a speech at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds.

Museveni, Deputy Speaker Jacob Oulanyah, Chief Justice Bart Katureebe, IGG, Justice Irene Mulyagonja, endorse Uganda Anti-Corruption Pledge at Kololo Airstrip in Kampala.

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Business Bootcamp for 100 SME’s in Africa

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Our Reporter
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Business Bootcamp for 100 SME’s in Africa

The African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) will be launching its first Business Bootcamp for 100 SME’s in Africa on December 4-6, 2019 in Lomé Togo, in partnership with Ecobank.

The Business Bootcamp is in line with the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson’s “1 million by 2021 Initiative” which aims to provide concrete opportunities for 1 million youth by the year 2021, in the areas of Education, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Engagement. The initiative aims to leverage strategic partnerships, build ecosystems of efficiencies and test new ideas to move the needle on youth development.

The opening ceremony will be attended by Fati N’zi-Hassane AUDA-NEPAD Head of Human Capital, Josephine Anan-Ankomah Ecobank Group Executive Commercial Banking.

AUDA-NEPAD aims to contribute towards decent employment for Africa’s youth by supporting sustainable youth owned SME’s especially for young women. More specifically, AUDA-NEPAD seeks to contribute towards the AUC campaign by focusing on building the capacity of young entrepreneurs, engaging various stakeholders to avail sustainable financial mechanisms including the establishment of regional guarantees funds for youth and women led SMEs. There is vast potential for African economic growth to be driven by SME’s and there is even greater potential in the African youth taking up this challenge.

Ecobank, the Pan-African bank, believes in SMEs, not only as clients, but also as partners in driving social economic development. Ecobank, through its Academy and other business units, is working with the AUC on a number of initiatives to support SMEs and the youth attaining their full potential.

The Business Bootcamp will train 100 SME’s on business and entrepreneurial skills, broaden their markets beyond their local markets toward regional trade. It will also contribute to sustainable SME’s through good financial management, increase SME profitability, business growth and expansion to create more jobs.

The 100 SME’s were selected through a rigorous application and assessment exercise to ensure there is full representation of all the regions in Africa.

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Climate Change: River Nile turns wild in East Africa floodings

By
Agencies
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Tourists stranded on about to be submerged vehicle

Rainfall in East Africa from October to mid-November was as much as 300 per cent above average across the Horn of Africa, according to the Famine Early Warning Systems Network. The areas hit hardest include parts of Ethiopia, Somalia, and Kenya, where most of the deaths have occurred.

Floods have cut off West Nile from the rest of Uganda after R.Nile burst its banks on Tuesday. This north-western part of the country is now only accessible via ferries and air after the floods deposited heavy debris and weed on the road near the Pakwach Bridge in Pakwach district.

Flash floods and landslides triggered by heavy rainfall have killed at least 250 people in recent months in East Africa, adding to a weather-fueled crisis that has impacted some 2.5 million people in the region.

In response, Uganda National Roads Authority (Unra) has a temporary closed Packwach bridge until further notice and advises travelers going to and from West Nile to use the Gulu-Adjumani-Leropi ferry, Gulu-Adjumani-Obongi ferry or the Masindi Wanseko ferry.

A statement from UNRA, says their teams in Gulu and Arua are mobilizing equipment to clear the road for immediately use.

The Situation in South Sudan:

Response activities have been scaled-up across the affected locations where floods devastated the lives and livelihoods of some 908,000 people. As of 29 November, about 7,000 metric tons of food commodities have been distributed, reaching some 704,000 people with emergency food assistance.

Food distributions are ongoing in some locations. Additional response teams have been deployed to the affected areas to rapidly expand the registration and distribution.

About 11,000 households in Ayod and Akobo counties have received agricultural inputs, vegetable seeds and fishing kits, while more distributions are proceeding in the affected-counties in Upper Nile, Jonglei, Unity and Abyei, targeting another 65,000 families. About 2,500 households have been assisted with the minimum water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) packages.

Some 9,000 households have been assisted with the Emergency Flood Rapid Response Kits (EFRRK), while distribution is underway for another 12,000 families. An estimated 23,000 households in priority locations need assistance.

Humanitarian organizations are using air and waterways to transport aid to hard-to-reach locations where people are taking shelter. In some areas where water levels remain high, particularly in Pibor in Jonglei, the affected people have to walk through mud and water to the distribution points at the airstrips.

To increase access and response activities, humanitarian organizations are repairing roads, particularly in the Maban area, with the participation of the local community. More than 220 metric tons of emergency aid items—assorted food items, health, nutrition, shelter, protection and WASH supplies—were transported to priority locations.

US $15 million from the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund is being released to replenish pipelines that agencies are already drawing upon to forward response. Another US $10 million from the OCHA managed South Sudan Humanitarian Fund will be allocated to enable an immediate, frontline response. These represent 41 per cent of US $61.5 million, the total funding required to meet the immediate needs of the most vulnerable people.

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Seven questions to test your potential as an entrepreneur

By
Agencies
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Martin Zwilling

By Martin Zwilling

As a mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs, the most common question I get is, “I want to be an entrepreneur — how do I start?” The obvious answer is that you need an idea first, but I’ve come to realize that the process is really much more complex than that. Many people with great ideas never make it as entrepreneurs, and true entrepreneurs can make a business out of anything.

The first myth you have to get past is that having the right idea will make you an entrepreneur. In fact, even implementing the idea into a solution doesn’t make you an entrepreneur. According to my definition and Wikipedia, an entrepreneur is someone who builds a new business. Based on my experience, creating the solution is usually the easy part of starting a successful business.

So before you quit your day job, task all your friends and investors for money, or max out your credit cards to design and build a product, I recommend that you seriously contemplate the following more basic questions:

Are you prepared to adopt the entrepreneur lifestyle? Starting a new business is not a job, but an adventure into the unknown, similar to Columbus setting out to find the New World. It’s a big step into a new lifestyle, like getting married after being single for many years. Yet startup founders are often lonely, since no one else can make their decisions.

How strong is your passion for people and business? You have to enjoy working with people — partners, customers, investors and more — as well as products to start a business. You have to embrace making decisions and the responsibility of setting milestones, measuring progress and celebrating the victories and defeats.

Are you confident and disciplined in facing tough challenges? Starting a business at home or on the Internet is hard work — not a get-rich-quick scheme. You will be operating outside of any proven realm, no mentor can give you the answer, and it won’t help to blame anyone else for missteps and environmental changes you can’t predict.

How familiar are you with the contemplated business domain? Remember that the grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence. It may make more sense to work for a similar startup before charging ahead on your own. The ultimate best teacher is failure, but a less painful one is getting related work experience and training.

Which business model best suits your mentality? Some people love to deliver services, where personal acumen is tested every day. Others love technology and products, to be replicated and sold while you sleep. If something totally new is not your forte, you can always buy a franchise, acquire an existing business or be a consultant.

Have you mapped out a realistic plan? Few entrepreneurs can assimilate and hone a complete plan in their head. That’s why I believe the process of writing down your plan is more valuable than the result. Also, a written plan multiplies your ability to communicate to constituents, and facilitates parallel feedback. Money is not a substitute.

What is your funding situation and alternatives? Fundraising is stressful and difficult, which is why 90 percent of successful entrepreneurs choose bootstrapping (self-funding). Too much money too early kills many startups, according to investors. There are always non-cash alternatives, such as recruiting partners with equity and bartering services.

After asking yourself these questions, and finding yourself still determined to be an entrepreneur, you will have already started. From there, it’s a simple matter of forging a trail to success, and conquering all the problems and challenges that are sure to surface. Starting a business is a marathon, so you have to make an overt decision to enjoy the journey as well as the destination.

The Writer is a veteran startup mentor, executive, blogger, author, tech professional, professor, and investor. Published on Forbes, Entrepreneur, Inc, Huffington Post, etc.

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I am not corrupt – Museveni blasts Deputy Speaker Jacob Oulanyah

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Our Reporter
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Museveni addressing Ugandans at Kololo on Wednesday

President Yoweri Museveni has said he is not corrupt despite being a wealth man.

“I have never stolen. But I am rich. I have never stolen anything from anybody but I am also not a poor man,” Museveni said at Kololo Independence Grounds while addressing thousands of Ugandans who participated in the Anti-Corruption Walk, where he was the Chief Walker.

Museveni came up to say he is not corrupt after Jacob Oulanyah, the deputy speaker of parliament, in his earlier speech insinuated all Ugandans are corrupt, a statement that didn’t go well with a section of people who had gathered on Wednesday morning to say no to corruption.

Oulanyah referred to the Bible and quoted Jesus Christ’s statement he made after realising people who had gathered wanted to stone a prostitute to death for committing adultery. “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her,” Jesus said.

Museveni was Chief Walker in Anti-Corruption Walk

Museveni further said that corrupt people are parasites. “They are parasites because they get wealth which they did not earn,” he said, adding that the nation needed to address itself to issues of morality, spiritual and materialism, if corruption is to be wiped out.

“Spiritually they are bad investors because they think that the bad things they do the people don’t see them, they think God doesn’t see them, yet God sees things that people don’t see,” he said.

Museveni said that has not seen these corrupt people being successful sustainably in the last 60 years.

He asked political leaders to help people get out of material needs by creating jobs and wealth through commercial agriculture Industrial development, services sector and ICT. “Anybody who delays a project in commercial agriculture, services and ICT is an enemy of the fight against corruption,” he said.

On using laws to fight corruption, Museveni said that the laws are in place, but the problem is with implementation. He urged Revenue Authority, State House Anti-Corruption Unit and the Inspector General of Government to hire staff on the basis of integrity rather than papers, saying when a person has integrity it is hard to bribe them.

He however said other public offices like the Judiciary, civil service, and army can recruit according to papers.

The Anti-Corruption Walk was on today in Kampala

Poor supervision has led to corruption tendencies in institutions like the police. He said public officers should engage the public to get information on service delivery and others.

The Anti-Corruption Walk featured members Museveni’s cabinet, civil service heads, political appointees like RDCs, diplomats, media, religious leaders, students, civil society organisations, private sector, traditional leaders, the army and police and of course Ugandans.

The Minister of State for Ethics & Integrity, Simon Lokodo has praised President Yoweri Museveni’s stand against corruption in a speech at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds.

Oulanyah urged every Ugandan to fight corruption. “Don’t wait to be president to fight corruption,” he said.

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Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda must do more to improve access to ICT for PWDs

By
Guest Writer
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Paul Kimumwe

By Paul Kimumwe

On the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) 2019, the Collaboration of International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) is calling upon governments and communication services providers in East Africa to take decisive steps to enable meaningful usage of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) for persons with disabilities.

In a new policy brief, CIPESA highlights Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda’s obligations on enabling digital accessibility for persons with disabilities and challenges the three countries to live up to their commitments, as contained in national laws and policies, as well as international instruments they are party to.

Although recent advances have made an ever-greater number of people use ICT for a growing range of tasks, persons with disabilities (PWDs) in East Africa still find it hard to access and use digital technologies and thus continue to miss out on the benefits that the technologies bring.

While Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda have enacted various laws and policies to advance the rights of persons with disabilities, including those on access to and use of ICT, these have largely remained on paper with key provisions not being implemented. As a result, a large section of persons with disabilities continue to face digital exclusion.

The situation is exacerbated by the high cost of assistive technologies, low literacy levels among persons with disabilities, and lack of investments in supportive infrastructure by public and private entities.

According to national census data, the percentage of persons with disabilities in Tanzania is 8% of the total population, 3.5% in Kenya, and 14% in Uganda. However, the lack of comprehensive disaggregated data, including the specific challenges that persons with different types of disabilities face in accessing information and using ICT, also undermines the design and implementation of interventions that would improve their access.

The provision of accessible information to persons with disabilities is essential to enable them to exercise their fundamental freedoms and human rights. In this regard, one of the pillars of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), is the pledge to leave no one behind, including in the use of ICT.

Besides endorsing the SDGs, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda have ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), the first international human rights treaty requiring that ICT tools and systems should be accessible as a necessary condition for persons with disabilities to fully enjoy their fundamental rights without discrimination.

Yet, while these governments are increasingly offering e-services, and in some instances have developed guidelines for managing government websites that set out requirements for accessibility for audio, visual and speech-impaired users, as well as compatibility with assistive technologies and devices, these guidelines remain unimplemented and unenforced. Moreover, in the three countries, majority of people that need assistive technologies lack them, because of prohibitive cost and low awareness of such technologies and their functionalities.

The CIPESA brief notes that the countries have sufficient laws and policies, but the weakest link is the lack of their implementation and enforcement. For example, Tanzania’s National ICT Policy 2003 calls for provision of special attention to providing new learning and ICT access opportunities for disadvantaged groups, including persons with disabilities, in order to address social inequities. Kenya’s National ICT Policy of 2016 outlines, under article 13, strategies for “an accessible ICT environment in the country in order to enable persons with disabilities to take full advantage of ICTs.”

In Uganda, Section 21 of the Persons with Disability Act mandates the government to develop and use sign language, tactile, and sign language interpreters in all public institutions and at public functions; and to braille public information such as government documents and government newspapers. It also obligates television stations to provide sign language inset or subtitles.

Many of the challenges faced by persons with disabilities in accessing information can be mitigated through equitable access to ICT, meaningful implementation of the laws, and innovative investments in technologies that support inclusion of persons with disabilities.

Accordingly, CIPESA is calling upon governments to take decisive steps in this direction, for instance:

  • Promote access to affordable assistive devices and technologies beyond tax exemptions and relying on donations.
  • Ensure that all e-government, e-services and emergency services comply with international web accessibility standards and are accessible for persons with disabilities.
  • Ensure that communication service providers have accessible handsets and other mobile devices embedded with accessibility features for persons with different kinds of disabilities within their sales outlets.
  • Ensure that licensed television service providers deliver accessible services such as audio description, audio subtitles, closed captions and signage language interpretation in their programmes to ensure access for persons with disabilities.

The Writer is Senior Program Officer, The Collaboration on International ICT Policy in East and Southern Africa (CIPESA)

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