About Us
Our History
Mary Bizike Nalongo was a pioneer of the disability movement in Uganda, who founded the Uganda Disabled Women's Association (UDWA) in 1986. She was born with a physical disability and faced multiple forms of discrimination and violence as a woman with a disability under the oppressive regime of Idi Amin in the 1970s. During that time people with disabilities were denied education, health services, employment, and marriage rights, and were subjected to stigma and marginalization by society..
Despite these challenges, Mary Bizike Nalongo pursued her passion for umbrella making at the Kireka Rehabilitation Center, where she met other women and youth with disabilities who shared similar experiences of exclusion and injustice. She realized the need for a collective voice and action to advocate for the rights and dignity of people with disabilities, especially women and girls. She mobilized her peers and formed the UDWA, a women-led disabled people's organization that aims to promote effective inclusion and equal participation of women and girls with disabilities in all spheres of life.
Mary Bizike Nalongo was a visionary leader, a wheel chair engineer, a mother of nine with twins, and a role model for many women and girls with disabilities in Uganda and beyond. She dedicated her life to fighting for the empowerment and recognition of women and girls with disabilities, and to creating a society that looks beyond disabilities, focuses on capabilities, and expands possibilities for people with disabilities. She passed away in 2021, leaving behind a legacy of courage, resilience, and solidarity. MHSRIP
About Us
Who We Are
We are a leading Ugandan disability focused organisation engaged in coordination of activities of women and girls with disabilities in Uganda .The organisation was found in 1986 by women with disabilities with a strong presence .
The Uganda Disabled Women Association (UDWA) is dedicated to empowering women and girls with disabilities through an inclusive and holistic approach that fosters their full potential.
Our initiatives are grounded in a rights-based framework and are aligned with the principles set forth in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which Uganda has ratified.
We strive to contribute to the national development agenda by supporting the empowerment of disabled women and promoting their active participation in society.
Our programs focus on education, healthcare access, and advocacy, ensuring that the voices of disabled women are heard and valued.
By working collaboratively with communities and stakeholders, we aim to break down barriers and create an equitable future where all women can thrive.
Together, we are committed to fostering sustainable change and advancing the rights of women and girls with disabilities in Uganda.
About Us
Our Vision.
A society where disabled women and their children, live to their full potential, rights and aspirations.
Our Mission.
Enhance the quality of life of disabled women and their children by empowering them through education, information access and economic activities; increasing access to health services and products and promoting gender equity and advocacy for the rights of disabled women and girls.
Our Slogan.
Looking Beyond Disabilities ,Focusing on Capabilities And Expanding Possibilities For Women And Girls with Disabilities.
About us
Objectives.
a) To empower disabled women and their children by increasing their access to education and skilling
services; income generating activities (IGAs), information on rights and services; and linkages.
b) To promote access to health and gender services among disabled women and their children by
increasing access to specific services and information.
c) To advocate for people with disability rights, inclusion and equity in all spheres of life (health,
education, employment, transport, sports, traditional and cultural activities etc.).
Our Values
Our core values are the fundamental ideals at the heart of the work that we do at UDWA.
Our Core values reflect what is truly important to the organization.
These values are the basic principles that guide the internal relationships, operations as well as relationships with the beneficiaries and stakeholders.
The UDWA team and stakeholders reflected on the core values and maintained the following:.
i) Professionalism
ii).Human dignity
iii). Diversity
iv). Equality & Equity.
We recognise & embrace our physical differences and appreciate human diversity.
We celebrate who we are; different, resilient and capable.
Human dignity: We believe in respect and we do not discriminate any one on grounds of having different disabilities.
THEORY OF CHANGE (ToC)
Women and girls with disabilities in Uganda face significant obstacles to accessing healthcare, education, and social integration, issues that are intensified by negative societal attitudes and financial constraints.
Access to essential healthcare services is often limited, leaving them vulnerable to health complications. Furthermore, the organization provides critical healthcare support and adaptive tools to ensure that vital services are accessible.
Additionally, we addresses these challenges by offering scholarships and vocational training, empowering women and girls to gain the skills needed for economic independence. By providing financial assistance for education and training programs, UDWA opens pathways to inclusive opportunities. Through initiatives that promote awareness and combat discrimination and violence, UDWA fosters an environment that values inclusion and active participation. This comprehensive approach aims to enhance the quality of life for disabled women and girls, enabling them to engage fully in their communities and contribute to a more equitable society.
Our Staff
Miss Drajo Florence Wazemwa
Executive Director
Nantume Cathy
Deputy Executive Director
