The State of Uganda’s population report 2023-Under chapter 3

Introduction
The term persons with disabilities is used to apply to all persons with long-term physical, mental, intellectual,
or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various attitudinal and environmental barriers, hinder their
full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. The Uganda Persons with Disabilities
Act 2006 defines disability as “a substantial functional limitation of daily life activities caused by physical,
mental or sensory impairment and environmental barriers resulting in limited participation.” Uganda’s Persons
with Disabilities Act 2020 highlights a disability to be a substantial functional limitation of a person’s daily life
activities caused by physical, mental, or sensory impairment and environmental barriers, resulting in limited
participation in society on an equal basis with others and includes an impairment specified in Schedule 3 to
this Act.
The World Health Organization (WHO) considers disabilities an umbrella term covering impairments, activity
limitations, and participation restrictions. An impairment is a problem in body function or structure; an activity
limitation is a difficulty encountered by an individual in executing a task or action; while a participation restriction
is a problem experienced by an individual in involvement in life situations. This makes disability a complex
phenomenon, reflecting an interaction between a person’s body features and the society in which they live”.
According to the WHO estimates, over 1 billion people experience disability, which corresponds to about 15%
of the world’s population, with up to 190 million (3.8%) people aged 15 years having significant difficulties in
functioning, often requiring health care services (WHO, 2011). The number of people experiencing disability is
increasing due to a rise in chronic health conditions and the ageing population. Furthermore, the World Health
Organization notes that 80% of persons with disabilities live in developing countries (Scholz, Yalcin & Priestley,
2017).
While advances in Information and Communications Technology (ICTs), including the Internet, have created
avenues of inclusion for some, especially persons with disabilities, it has also widened the extent to which they
are excluded from the social and economic potential of the digital society. The access and adoption of ICT
have enhanced the social, cultural, political, and economic integration in communities by enlarging the scope
of activities available to them. Several studies show how internet use in the general population depends on
various biological, economic, social, or organizational aspects. Age is negatively related to internet use, but
higher education, higher income, having a job, and being coupled are linked to increased internet access, use,
and adoption (Helsper & Van, 2017). Studies that address potentially problematic features in internet use, e.g.,
navigation and orientation, have defined search queries and evaluated information to include persons with
disabilities (Liebert & Morahan, 2004).
This study aimed to determine the extent of access and adoption of ICT skills for E-services among persons with
disabilities in Uganda. Through a mixed methods approach, the study found that having a hearing impairment
increases the odds of Internet access compared to the general population. However, once online, there were
no differences in many areas of usage and increased chances that people with disabilities engaged in five
activities: downloading videos, playing games online, reviewing products or services, sharing their content,
and posting to blogs, as seconded by (Dobransky & Hargittai, 2006). The study recommends that the relevant
laws and policies in place that can be used concerning ICT access and usage among persons with disabilities
include but are not limited to The National Council for Disability Act, 2003; The RCDF Policy 2010/11-2014/15; The
National Information and Communications Technology Policy for Uganda 2014 and Persons with Disabilities Act, 2020.