Our Programmes:

This section highlights the recent programme work of ADD Uganda Programme. The historical perspectives of its work are in “ADD’s 20 years”.  ADD started its work in Uganda in 1987, with the mission of bringing about positive policy and social changes for disabled people, through building disabled peoples’ organizations (DPOs).  ADD’s work focuses on helping disabled people to help themselves. It evolves around supporting disabled people as they: Identify the causes of their discrimination and poverty; build  confidence in their own worth, abilities and rights; organise themselves and build their organisations; campaign and advocate for equal rights and inclusive societies; set up their own initiatives to improve their lives; change the attitude of society; and encourage appropriate enabling legislation. 

When ADD started in Uganda in 1987, there were fragmented DPOs scattered across the country. With the aim of creating a unified voice ADD supported them in coming together to form the National Union of the Disabled Persons of Uganda (NUDIPU). Thus ADD’s initial key role was nurturing NUDIPU to achieve its mandate.    

By 1995, two key demands emerged: 1) there was increasing demand by disabled people to participate as equal citizens, which called for increased capacity building. 2) Increased demand for disabled people for services, which called for increased advocacy and influence to government and NGOs to provide services to disabled people. The two variables together with the coming into force of the Local government Act contributed to defining the role of ADD to capacity building and Advocacy. These are still the two main aims of ADD Uganda. The evolving role of ADD can be traced in the Phases of programme development, which guides ADD’s role in the country  

ADD Uganda Main Programmes: 

CULTIVATING CAPACITY:  enabling rights based organisations of disabled people to become effective, self-sustaining, democratic and representative member organisations, able to carry out their work and to promote the rights of all disabled adults and children to full inclusion in society.                                                                                                                                                                                             

INFLUENCE AND ADVOCACY: Working with disability rights organisations to influence policy makers and development organisations to include the rights and needs of disabled people in development programmes and initiatives and to ensure appropriate allocation of resources for this.