Address PWD electoral challenges - Letters

As we approach the 2016 general elections, it should be recalled that for a long time, PWDs have been excluded from political decision making processes in Uganda, largely due to the absence of policies.
There have been positive efforts such as the election of PWD representatives to Parliament. While we recognise these efforts, we still face challenges that impede meaningful participation in electoral democracy. Voters, especially PWDs, many times fail to participate in the electoral processes because of the social and environment barriers.
Some polling stations are not accessible to most physically challenged voters. Secret ballot system of voting is still a challenge to the visually impaired, while the voter education mechanisms have remained inadequate. There is also inadequate funding to support the electoral processes for PWDs. Above all, political representation of youth with disabilities is almost unheard of.
The above issues contravene the provisions of the Constitution of Uganda. For instance, Article 68 (1) of the Constitution emphasises secret ballot voting. Unfortunately, this is a myth for voters with visual impairments who have to depend on the second party to cast their vote. The challenges from this is that the second party could influence the voting and may end up voting for someone else other than the preferred candidate of the actual voter. The aspect of confidentiality is equally difficult to realise.
How to deliver the right information at the right time in the right format for the benefit of persons with speech and hearing challenges, visually impaired, people with psychosocial challenges, is also lacking in various aspects.
Availability and application of alternative communication methods is scanty if not entirely disregarded. The situation is exacerbated by the prevalent levels of illiteracy, negative social stereotypes and cultural beliefs against PWDs. Lack of sign language interpreters in conducting voter education partly explains the inefficiency in elections. There are also no mechanisms for mobilisation and engagement of PWDs.
There is no provision for funding for special ballot papers in tactile and braille formats, sign language interpretation services during general electoral processes at various levels countrywide, and any other relevant support services to enable PWDs exercise their constitutional right are not prioritised. There is low or no financing at all for PWD electoral colleges by the Electoral Commission.
Inclusive participation of all youth in their diversities in all electoral processes involves having youth with disability representatives at all levels. Otherwise, making of informed decisions, holding their leaders accountable, providing a unified system through which they can communicate to coordinate their ideas and activities, would be greatly hampered.
We need deliberate efforts by government to address these challenges.
David Nangosi,
Legal Assistant and a disability rights activist at NUDIPU,
davidnangosi@yahoo.com