news 12 November 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Government Unveils Five-Year Programme for Refugees and Hosts Living with Disabilities
Uganda's Ministry of Health is rolling out ABILITY+, a five-year initiative to provide free assistive devices and rehabilitation services to refugees and host communities. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/inside-govt-s-five-year-programme-for-refugees-living-with-disabilities-5668456
The Ugandan government has announced plans to implement a comprehensive five-year initiative known as ABILITY+, designed to provide free assistive devices to refugees living with disabilities alongside members of their host communities.
Speaking at the Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Symposium in Kampala, Dr. Isaac Okiring, the Health Systems and Disability Inclusion Specialist at the Ministry of Health, outlined the upcoming programme. Scheduled to run from 2026 to 2031, the initiative will cover all refugee settlements and host districts nationwide.
Dr. Okiring noted that the ministry already possesses a baseline stock of wheelchairs, walking canes, and reading glasses, alongside national trainers and training materials. The programme will recruit community teams to identify specific needs among individuals with disabilities and connect them directly to health facilities and outreach programmes.
The ABILITY+ initiative builds upon the National Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Strategic Plan 2025–2030. This broader strategy seeks to integrate rehabilitation deeply into primary healthcare, shifting away from a charity-based model toward promoting independence, dignity, and active social inclusion.
Officials revealed that a priority assistive products list featuring 50 items across various disability categories is currently being finalised for integration into the essential medicines and health supplies list. Additionally, more than 1,500 primary healthcare workers have received training in delivering comprehensive rehabilitation services.
Despite these advancements, stakeholders highlighted persistent delivery gaps outside Kampala, stressing the urgent need to equip grassroots health facilities. During the symposium, organised by the National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda (NUDIPU), advocates also urged the government to waive taxes on essential assistive commodities such as diapers.
Read more details in the original report on Daily Monitor.