Assessment of the realization of the right to work for persons with disabilities in Uganda : a case study of Kampala district, 2000-2017

Abstract

This study assessed the realization of the right to work for persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Uganda for the period 2000 to 2017. Specifically, the study examined the economic and social barriers to the realization of the right to work for PWDs, examined the perceptions of employers regarding employing PWDs, and assessed the effectiveness of the existing legal, policy and Institutional frameworks regarding the realization of the right to work for PWDs. A descriptive cross-sectional research design with a qualitative approach was adopted in obtaining the necessary information from forty (40), respondents from ten purposively selected organisations in Kampala. The findings revealed that despite the existence of international, regional and national legal frameworks, and despite the activities of international bodies and Disabled Peoples‟ Organizations (DPOs), PWDs‟ right to work continues to be violated. For instance; statistics indicate that the rates of unemployment, underemployment and economic inactivity among PWDs are much higher than other workers. According to the Uganda 2014 Population and Housing Census, 4,096,477 (11.75%) of the population in Uganda are PWDs. Among the 11.75% PWDs, about 3.5 million which is 12.4% are eligible for employment. However, out of 3.5 PWDs in active workforce age; only 0.2% are into active employment both in formal and informal sectors (PWDs water paper report, 2018). Persons with disabilities are also vulnerable to discrimination and marginalization due to low qualifications, high illiteracy levels due to disadvantaged background, lacks basic and soft skills to perform some tasks, poor physical environment that is not accessible by PWDs, Lack of Assistive devices and other necessities such as wheel chairs etc, exploitation and underemployment, high rates of ignorance among PWDs about existing opportunities, shortage of specific jobs that can be done by PWDs, Employer biases for instance and negative attitude of some employers to work with PWDs. All these are among the major barriers to the right to work for PWDs. There are also some noticeable gaps in the legal frameworks such as CRPD, the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, Employment Act, 2006, Disability Act, 2006, Employment Regulations, 2011 among others. For instance, these frameworks lack clear implementation mechanisms. Though, there are some PWDs organisations such as NUDIPU that have played a big role in promoting the right to work for PWDs in terms of creation of awareness regarding the right to work for PWDs, participating in reviewing legislations concerning PWDs as well as consulting and cooperating with other similar organizations, much still needs to be done. For instance, there is need for the government of the Republic of Uganda to address the existing negative perceptions by the employers pertaining PWDs‟ right to work. There is need to amend both existing international and National Legal Frameworks so as to include the implementation and enforcement mechanisms geared towards the realization of the right to work for PWDs. PWDs also need to be empowered economically through the establishment of income generating projects by the government so as to enhance their human flourishing.