Women with disabilities in Arua City are registering improvements in business and leadership skills under the Women’s Voice and Leadership Project, implemented by Women Empowerment and Inclusion for Development (WEID).
According to a 2025 survey by Arua City Union of Persons with Disabilities, there are about 4,700 persons with disabilities living in Arua City, with many, especially women, facing challenges of financial opportunities and business support.
They also expressed struggles in coping with stigma and discrimination from some members of the community which affects their participation in community activities and decision making.
Betty Edonia, a resident of Kana Village, acknowledged that stigma remains one of the major challenges facing persons with disabilities which hinders them from participating in different activities.
“Life was not easy because of my disability. I used to stay in hiding due to stigma and could not do any business, but I was empowered to speak up and began my baking business,” Edonia testifies.
Under the Women’s Voice and Leadership Project, women with disabilities in Arua City undergo mentorship programmes, financial literacy, advocacy and leadership training as interventions to address these challenges.
The five-year project worth 188 million shilling from 2023 to 2027 with funding through CARE International in Uganda and CARE Canada, sourced from the Pathy Family Foundation, to improve performance of women’s rights organizations and youth-led organizations in West Nile region.
Florence Acia, a resident of Mvara Ward, attributed her victory in the NRM party primary election as flag bearer for LC I chairperson position to the leadership skills and courage she gained from trainings attended.
Similarly, Pasca Ayikoru, a market vendor at Muni Site Market, noted that the financial literacy and business skills she acquired have enabled her to manage her baking business more effectively.
“For a long time, women market vendors with disabilities were left out of many programmes. I have now learned that as a businesswoman, you must be smart, keep your products clean and treat customers well” she revealed.
However, the Principal Town Agent of Adalafu Ward in Ayivu Division, Ronald Anguma, commended WEID for its intervention in promoting inclusion, citing advocacy efforts to improve the design of Onduparaka Market by incorporating ramps for persons with disabilities, which were initially missing.
The Finance Officer at WEID, Eveline Lulua, said under institutional strengthening project, the organization has registered improvements in project management and accountability due to the new systems introduced during project implementation.
Meanwhile, the Country Coordinator of SIHA Network, Jackie Bless, commended the initiative of supporting women with disabilities and implementing through the project to overcome challenges.
Rights activists have continued advocating for inclusion of persons with disabilities in programs, especially those that are aimed at improving participation in decision making-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
