Kampala, Uganda | Disability rights advocates in Uganda have issued a stern warning to government institutions and political parties, demanding urgent action to curb a surge in fraudulent claims of disability by individuals seeking to exploit electoral positions reserved for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
At a joint press briefing in Kampala, the National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda (NUDIPU), in collaboration with the East Africa Centre for Disability Law and Policy (CDLP) and the Uganda Media Women’s Association (UMWA), expressed serious concern over the growing abuse of affirmative action provisions in the lead-up to the 2026 general elections.
Esther Kyozira, the Chief Executive Officer of NUDIPU, reported that the organisation had received credible complaints from across the country regarding individuals without disabilities registering or campaigning as persons with disabilities.
These individuals, she said, were targeting local government and parliamentary seats reserved for PWDs.
Kyozira explained that this conduct amounted to systemic exploitation and that it undermined both the dignity of persons with disabilities and the credibility of Uganda’s inclusive electoral framework.
She noted that Uganda’s legal framework, including the constitution and various electoral laws, guarantees representation of PWDs at all levels of governance.
However, she warned that this representation was increasingly being undermined by opportunistic actors exploiting loopholes for personal political gain.
Kyozira indicated that the trend was especially concerning in areas where political mobilisation was intensifying, such as within the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party structures.
According to her, some individuals had begun manipulating medical assessments or using false community testimonies to fraudulently secure disability classification and thereby qualify for reserved electoral seats.
She emphasised that such actions were not only unethical but also constituted a clear violation of the Persons with Disabilities Act.
She called on the Electoral Commission to strictly enforce Schedule 3 of the Act, which outlines recognised disability categories, in order to ensure that only eligible individuals are allowed to contest under PWD-designated positions.
Kyozira further appealed to political parties to establish internal verification mechanisms for vetting aspiring candidates seeking to contest for PWD seats.
She cautioned that continued inaction would result in the disenfranchisement of genuine persons with disabilities and would erode Uganda’s commitment to inclusive governance.
She recalled that the fight for disability representation in politics had been long and hard-won, citing legal milestones such as the 1995 Constitution, the amended Parliamentary Elections Act, and the Local Government Act of 1997 as key instruments that enabled persons with disabilities to actively participate in governance.
Kyozira concluded by stressing that allowing imposters to infiltrate spaces meant for genuine PWDs would reverse years of progress.
She urged stakeholders to act promptly to protect the integrity of the electoral process.
The press conference ended with a call to the public to remain vigilant and report any suspected cases of disability impersonation.
Stakeholders were also urged to reinforce disability rights education and ensure that political inclusion is guided by fairness, dignity, and legality rather than exploitation.
Mama FM
