While speaking at the commemoration event of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), the Kyambogo University Vice Chancellor Prof Elly Katunguka said that the university council has approved a policy targeting service provision for persons with disabilities and operationalizing it is in the works.
The commemoration day was run under the theme “Promoting full inclusion and accessible environment in higher education”. In his speech, Katunguka also noted that they are going to begin setting up a one stop center for students with disabilities in one of the newly constructed classy buildings.
“Although we are facing a challenge of low staff, we shall recruit a few to run this one stop center. This will enable them to share their various challenges, interact, and also to feel at home. All these new buildings are PWDs friendly and we look forward to supporting them in all ways,” Prof Katunguka said.
Having over 200 students with disabilities, Prof Katunguka promised to enhance research in PWDs related issues, conducting outreach activities and ensuring an enabling environment for them. “Government must appreciate that the cost of teaching a student with disability is high. They require wheel guides, escorts, interpreters… they are many,” Katunguka revealed.
Among other speakers included Dr. Victor Locholo, the PWDs representative at the National Council for Higher Education who noted that they have so far spent Shs 65 million on Kyambogo disabled students only for academic requirements. He also called for rehabilitation of the current faculty of special needs at Kyambogo which is currently only for training purposes.
