The Constitution of Uganda affirms the equal right to respect and dignity for all citizens with disabilities. In 1995, as part of that right, the government recognized Ugandan Sign Language (USL) as an official language. However, the approximately 1.29 million deaf people in Uganda still face significant challenges, including abuse and discrimination.

Most deaf children in the country don’t complete their primary education due to a lack of access and funding, leading to a lack of employment opportunities. These factors create a cycle of poverty among the deaf community in Uganda, which the organizations in this article seek to resolve.

Deaf Link Uganda

Founded in 2007 and based in Kampala, Deaf Link Uganda helps the deaf community by promoting the rights of deaf citizens, providing education for the deaf and teaching business development skills to deaf Ugandans. Within these overarching programs, Deaf Link Uganda provides sign language workshops, promotes literacy and reading among deaf children and provides training in graphic design and industrial skills. 

The organization primarily focuses on rural communities, where social stigmas regarding deafness more severely limit social and economic opportunities. Along with the Uganda National Association of the Deaf, Deaf Link Uganda co-hosts International Deaf Awareness Week every September. It encourages outreach activities to educate hearing Ugandans on the causes of deafness and the existence of USL as a minority language, as well as promote networking between deaf and hearing communities.

Deaf Sign Alliance

Also based in Kampala, and founded in 2016, Deaf Sign Alliance was initially the Deaf Children and Youth Alliance, but the organization expanded its reach in recognition of the need for continued support to deaf persons of all ages. Deaf Sign Alliance aims to transform Ugandan society into one that offers equity and respect to deaf people. 

It promotes USL through community-based training, engages in human rights advocacy for deaf Ugandans, networks across the country to ensure emergency response groups are inclusive of deaf needs, sponsors the costs of educating deaf children in hearing schools, helps deaf people develop vocational skills and builds relationships between businesses in the hearing community and deaf adults. As part of this work, Deaf Sign Alliance also has partnerships with local and international stakeholders.

SignHealth Uganda

SignHealth Uganda was founded in 2009 and is based in Kampala. The NGO is dedicated to creating equity through sustainable services and advocacy. Backed by SignHealth International, it helps the deaf community in Uganda by improving deaf education nationwide, providing accessible health care to deaf Ugandans and fostering community outreach. Specific programs include education about and testing for HIV/AIDS, mental health counseling and after-school activities for deaf children, such as sports and theater. 

SignHealth Uganda also works with families of deaf children and teachers in mainstream schools, training them in USL and on the protected rights of deaf children. Through its community outreach program, SignHealth Uganda formed clubs and networking opportunities for deaf youth. Altogether, it has implemented 15 programs and impacted more than 5,000 Ugandans.

Boanerges Deaf Initiative

Founded in 2003 and based in Semuto, Boanerges Deaf Initiative is a Christian ministry organization dedicated to educating young, deaf Ugandans and fostering their self-confidence. In an effort to combat the social stigma that deaf children are a burden, the group provides students with a bed, clothing, shoes, food and school supplies. They also provide free USL courses to the community to bridge social gaps and encourage networking between deaf and hearing children. 

The school run by Boanerges Deaf Initiative allows deaf students to graduate with the same academic credentials as their hearing peers, including taking the same national exams. In addition to private fundraising, the group encourages literacy among deaf students through an international penpal program.

Deaf Girls Rescue

Since 2015, Deaf Girls Rescue has been helping deaf girls rise out of poverty and illiteracy. Based in Wakiso District, the organization engages in grassroots-level research on statistics about Ugandan deaf girls in order to support advocacy efforts. It raises public awareness of the vulnerability of this minority population through USL classes, outreach programs with public officials and health care workers, advocacy in legal sectors and public school teacher training. 

Deaf Girls Rescue provides education, including sexual reproduction information, to deaf girls in the hopes of creating economic opportunities for them. In a prior project, Deaf Girls Rescue trained 20 deaf women and girls as chicken farmers, enabling them to gain financial independence and reduce barriers to safety.

Looking Ahead

While the deaf community in Uganda still faces significant difficulties in gaining true equity, these five organizations have made tremendous strides to bring the community in that direction and to raise awareness of deaf citizens’ value in society. Due to their efforts, deaf Ugandans have increased access to education, economic opportunities, accessible health care and more.

– Natalie Coyne
Photo: Flickr