The National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda (NUDIPU), alongside several disability rights organizations, has issued a passionate call to government to allocate a supplementary budget for the Child Disability Benefit.
The appeal, made during a press conference on July 2, 2025, urges the Ministry of Finance to prioritize children with disabilities who remain among the most vulnerable in Uganda.
Citing data from the 2024 National Population and Housing Census, NUDIPU revealed that 460,805 children aged 2 to 17 in Uganda live with disabilities—accounting for 2.4% of the child population.
These children, and the families who care for them, face compounded challenges ranging from access to healthcare and education, to social exclusion and income loss due to caregiving duties.
“Families of children with disabilities incur extra costs for transport, treatment, and specialized education. Yet, they often lack adequate support,” NUDIPU said in the statement.
The organization expressed concern that despite Uganda’s expansive UGX 72.376 trillion national budget for FY 2025/26, unveiled in June, no funds were earmarked for a Child Disability Benefit. This omission, they say, undermines national commitments to inclusive development.
During a high-level dialogue on March 26, 2025, Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa emphasized that disability support is a right, not a privilege. He called for an allocation of at least UGX 12 billion to kickstart the benefit.
NUDIPU is now proposing a minimum of UGX 12.6 billion—just 0.017% of the total budget—as a startup allocation to roll out the benefit. The appeal is also directed at Parliament’s Budget and Gender Committees to push for action.
“We cannot talk about equity and transformation without addressing the needs of children with disabilities. It is time for action, not just commitments,” the statement concluded.