NUDIPU, Women Media Advocates Demand Authentic Disability Representation in Politics

The National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda (NUDIPU), in partnership with the Uganda Media Women’s Association (UMWA), has urged electoral bodies to ensure that only individuals with genuine disabilities are allowed to contest for political positions designated for persons with disabilities (PWDs).

Speaking during a press conference at NUDIPU’s offices in Bukoto, the organisation’s Executive Director, Esther Kyozira, condemned the growing trend of non-disabled individuals vying for leadership roles meant specifically for PWDs.

“This undermines the very purpose of representation. People without disabilities cannot fully articulate or address the lived realities and complex challenges faced by persons with disabilities,” Kyozira said.

She warned that allowing individuals without disabilities to occupy these spaces compromises the authenticity and effectiveness of disability leadership, weakens advocacy, and leads to poor service delivery.

Kyozira urged the Electoral Commission and local government structures to implement stringent vetting processes to ensure only qualified and eligible candidates make it onto the ballot.

The joint statement by NUDIPU and UMWA called for an end to tokenistic inclusion, arguing that representation must be rooted in lived experience. “We are not just calling for inclusion in name. We want representation that is genuine, lived, and transformative,” Kyozira emphasised.

The organisations also called on voters within the disability community to scrutinise candidates more carefully, reject impostors, and hold both their peers and electoral authorities accountable.

They noted that grassroots vigilance was key to preserving the integrity of these leadership positions.

“Representation is a matter of justice, not charity. Leaders must come from the communities they speak for,” a representative from UMWA added, reaffirming the group’s commitment to amplifying the voices of marginalised populations and promoting disability-inclusive journalism across Uganda.

The two organisations concluded the press briefing with a call for strengthened legal enforcement mechanisms, expanded civic education around electoral integrity, and broader media engagement to ensure persons with disabilities are not only included but genuinely empowered in Uganda’s political and governance processes.