The opposition Democratic Party (DP) calls for extension of the nationwide exercise for Identification and Mapping of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) on the National Voters Register by the Electoral Commission (EC) to allow all PWDs to fully participate in the process.

The exercise commenced yesterday on November 4th and will end next week on November 13th 2024.

The DP National Secretary for PWDs, Maxensia Tebakirambule during a press conference at Balintuma Road in Mengo disclosed a one-week period is inadequate given the many barriers to participation that persons with disabilities encounter daily, saying the Commission should view this process as continuous.

Tebakirambule adds that the exercise has already suffered a stillbirth because in many community centers and village squares where Village Councils were to be convened, there is no visible activity.

She expresses concern over the lack of preparedness and willingness by the EC to facilitate meaningful participation of all PWDs in electoral processes and to popularize the process among others such that it benefits the intended beneficiaries otherwise other people will use this chance to register for their posts.

However, Tebakirambule has also advised the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) to provide means on how all PWDs irrespective of their status get IDs to allow them participate in elections as well as all other Government programs which require the use of national IDs.

By Charles Katabalwa

5 Nov 2024

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