Uganda’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs, Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, has pledged to push for progress on disability rights across the East African Community (EAC), renewing attention on a regional agenda that has remained unresolved for years.
Kadaga made the commitment at the conclusion of her tour of duty during the first meeting of the fifth session of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), where lawmakers discussed regional value chains, the proposed East African Political Confederation, hazardous pesticide management and the rights of persons with disabilities.
The disability rights motion, first introduced nearly a decade ago, received renewed support from legislators who called for greater inclusion, accessibility and equal participation for persons with disabilities across the region.
Kadaga pledged to table the matter before the EAC Council of Ministers and ensure it progresses through the Community’s decision-making processes.
Her commitment brings renewed focus to the role of regional institutions in addressing barriers that prevent persons with disabilities from fully participating in education, employment, public services and political life.
The proposed agenda seeks to strengthen disability inclusion across the EAC, where differences in national policies, accessibility standards and implementation can affect the ability of persons with disabilities to access opportunities and services.
For the regional bloc, the challenge extends beyond recognising disability rights in policy documents to ensuring that commitments translate into accessible public buildings, transport systems, information services and economic opportunities.
Kadaga’s proposed engagement with the Council of Ministers could provide a route for the issue to advance through the EAC’s policy-making structures. However, progress will depend on the subsequent consideration of the motion, decisions by the relevant regional organs and implementation by partner states.
The debate comes as the EAC pursues deeper economic and political integration among its member states. While regional cooperation has focused heavily on trade, infrastructure and political coordination, disability advocates have continued to call for integration that also addresses the needs of marginalised groups.
The renewed attention to disability rights raises a broader question about how the Community can ensure that the benefits of integration reach all citizens, regardless of disability.
Kadaga’s pledge signals an intention to keep the issue on the regional agenda. The key measure of progress will be whether the proposed action leads to enforceable commitments, improved accessibility and greater participation for persons with disabilities across East Africa.
