“We would sell our hand crafts for a living, because that’s what we could afford to do. Most of us cannot walk from here, we have no gardens where we can depend on, and our only hope was crafts. Now that it’s no more because of this Covid-19 lock down, our remaining hope is in our God” said a teary Mary Tindibasa, one of the People living with disabilities at Kikungiri Handicapped Center.
As the lockdown continues to leave the world agitated and unnerved, and several parts of the world looking to be affected by hunger, people living with disabilities haven’t been spared either.
Uganda has continued, like other countries in the world to effect the lockdown in a move to contain the deadly coronavirus, but this has made the situation of people with disabilities far more miserable and cumbersome.
At a time when public transport is off the streets, buying essentials and medicines is nothing but a bumpy ride for them.
Kikungiri Handicapped center in Kabale Municipality houses at least ten households with fifty two family members, all with body disabilities.
Having previously been unemployed, and therefore being amongst the poor, and marginalized indicates that the current lockdown leaves their health at risk and shatters their hope of accessing other facilities.
Tindibasa, who heads the at Kikungiri Handicapped Center said recently she walked on foot for a kilometer from their home to collect a kilogram of maize flour that was being distributed by government, but she developed a swelling in her disabled legs that has failed to heal.
Anne Kobusingye, the councilor who represents the people with disabilities in the Kabale district council speaking to our reports on Monday said even the food donation the district has been receiving wont favor PWD’s because they won’t manage to move to where food is distributed to have a share.
“Our district has had several donations of recent but they have failed to consider us, who actually need food the most” Kobusingye said.
A helping Hand from KOCC
On Monday morning, Kigezi orphan children’s charity limited, a nonprofit organization donated one and a quarter tone of maize flour, including salt to selected disabled families living within Kabale Municipality.
Titus Arinaitwe, the director of the organization handing over the consignment urged the general public to recognize the fact that disabled persons will be badly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, and therefore needed the helping hand.
“As an organization and our friends, we have brought what we have. If we get anything later we can bring it here. I want to urge other people of good heart to consider these people in this pandemic era. How do you think they will survive yet they aren’t working?” Arinaitwe said.
The donated flour will benefit approximately 60 families living within Kabale Municipality.
According to Anne Kobusingye, there are more than 500 people with disabilities in the district they badly need assistance.
Uganda has recorded 122 coronavirus cases since the outbreak.
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