Message of the Executive Director
I would like to note that COWODDU has generally grown through expansion of its network and benefit of reviewed policy framework. The new policies have strengthened our accountability and transparency. These policies include: the procurement policy, the finance policy, the human resource policy and child protection policy, non-discrimination policy, and sexual exploitation and abuse policy.
With respect to our work, there has been continuous increase in the agency and self esteem among GWWDs, and currently they strongly stand up for their rights. One GWD said, “I used to hate myself because of this physical appearance which distinguishes me from others but today, I have realized I was wrong’. This is because of the new understanding of disability and the rights of PWDs that she got from the COWODDU experiences. COWODDU created contexts for GWWDs to reflect on life more deeply and change their perception, and they cease to hold on to their former negative attitudes towards themselves. A testimony to what changed personal agency is doing: a deaf woman established a school in Ruhadaganzi Sub County, in Bushenyi. This lady never experienced school education herself but got inspiration at twenty five years to start a school and transform her community.
Cohesion among GWWDs has been increasing over the years as a result of interacting during trainings and workshops. They exchange contacts and this happens even in political circles where women with disabilities have contested. For example a member of BUWOD contested with men in the NRM party primaries, and she won and became the NRM Vice Chairperson for the Western region. Also WWDs have created business partnerships which led to nursing of amazing visions for example in Nyabubaale Sub County where WWDs developed a plan to start a wine processing plant as their income generating activity. Another example is the group of WWDs from Barr Sub County who benefited from the government special grant, and bought goats that were distributed among members.
COWODDU has facilitated various trainings in enterprise selection where participants were introduced to management tools of business planning in the running of the enterprises. This enhanced their capacity to engage in gainful self employment using their gained knowledge of
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development of a marketing plan, operational plan, costing and pricing, development of financial and investment plan. As a result some of them started businesses of selling things like tangerines even to places like Kampala that are far away. They also make liquid soap because of the trainings that they got, and for this they have ready market.
COWODDU has continuously been involved in consultations in communities locally, at regional, national and international levels on matters of inclusion of PWDs in humanitarian actions, and also made strides in change of attitude towards GWWDs in the communities, improved services and access to government programs for GWWDs. 2023 celebration International day of PWDs theme was: “United in action to rescue and achieve the SDGs for, with and by persons with disabilities”. All stakeholders were informed of the need to involve persons with disabilities in all sectors of life such as employment, education, and transportation, and ease their access to services in society in order to achieve the SDGs.
Community involvement has increased awareness in the project area about local concerns of GWWDs and sustainable solutions have been collectively found, and deterrent measures against any potential offenders put in place
COWODDU instituted a sustainability and fundraising plan that has increased the organization’s funding. This has been through increasing the number of joint proposal writing of medium and short term projects. Also COWODDU continuously engages with partners and donors
Our Guest of Honour I would like to thank you for supporting PWDs in this country. You demonstrated great love for PWDs when you personally invited and hosted persons living with albinism in parliament. Therefore I believe that you are a most well placed national leader whom we can gear issues of GWWDs in this country to since you are also a celebrated advocate of the cause of women and the girl child. Madam Speaker this is our opportunity to share with you the deeper feelings we have regarding GWWDs in this country. We know that you head a most important policy organ of government and your word can hardly fail to bear fruit. Talking about policy, i would like to thank you for the current policy regime that has supported our efforts to dewlap with vices such as GBV, and ensuring that GWWDs have equal opportunities to be in this country to get jobs, education, inherit family property, invest, get promoted, and supported meaningfully to live descent lives.

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