The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development has unveiled newly appointed members of the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) following the expiry of the previous council’s term on July 30, 2026.
The new members were unveiled by the Minister of State for Gender, Labour and Social Development in charge of Disability Affairs, Acan Joyce Okeny, at the ministry headquarters in Kampala.
The appointments are provided for under the Persons with Disabilities Act, 2020, which establishes the NCPD as a key institution responsible for promoting, protecting and monitoring the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities in Uganda.
Okeny said the appointments are intended to ensure fair representation, inclusiveness, competence and meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in the Council’s work.
“The appointment of Council members is to ensure fair representation, inclusiveness, competence and participation of persons with disabilities. Members are expected to bring relevant experience and knowledge to support the Council in fulfilling its mandate,” Okeny said.
She explained that the appointment process also considers legal requirements relating to eligibility, representation, tenure and accountability to ensure that the Council operates effectively and transparently.
However, Okeny disclosed that three ministries—the Ministry of Works and Transport, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, and the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs—had not yet nominated their representatives to the Council.
The new Council comprises representatives from government ministries, organisations of persons with disabilities, employers, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the country’s four regions, alongside youth and co-opted members.
Among those appointed are Sarah Ayesiga, Assistant Commissioner for Special Needs at the Ministry of Education and Sports; Theresa Ahimbisibwe, Principal Human Resource Officer at the Ministry of Public Service; Emmanuel Kimbowa, Assistant Commissioner for Finance and Planning at the Ministry of Local Government; and Dr Moses Muwanga, Assistant Commissioner for Health Services, Disability and Rehabilitation at the Ministry of Health.
Other representatives include Miriam Akot from the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development; Praxeda Nakityo, representing the Uganda National Association of Parents of Children with Disabilities; Ondoru Noeline Rios, from the Network of Albinism Associations Uganda; and Robert Nkwangu, representing the Uganda National Association of the Deaf.
The list also includes representatives of organisations supporting persons with dwarfism and visual impairments, the Federation of Uganda Employers and NGOs.
Regional representation covers western, northern, central and eastern Uganda, with male and female representatives drawn from different districts.
Okeny said the Council’s composition is designed to promote the meaningful representation of different categories of persons with disabilities while ensuring gender balance and geographical inclusion.
She added that the appointments are expected to strengthen the Council’s capacity to advance the rights, welfare and inclusion of persons with disabilities across the country.
The appointment of the new members follows the completion of the previous Council’s term on July 30, 2026.
