Programs & Services

Throughout the years, we have registered the following achievements among others:

Sign language training, development and use in line with the needs of the deaf people.
HIV/ AIDS awareness, counselling and psycho-social support.
Gender mainstreaming in all programs.
Sensitization, advocacy, lobbying and networking with Organizations of Disabled People (OPDs) and other partners to influence policies and laws, secure their implementation and access provision of services and resources from government and CSOs.
Strengthening, establishing and supporting district associations of the deaf, groups of Deaf women, Deaf youth, Interpreters and the elderly.
Skills training with a focus on vocational and other marketable skills for sustainable livelihoods and wealth creation.
Development of programs and systems for enhancing effective management of human resources.
Fundraising and resource mobilization which has enabled UNAD and its members generate funds for poverty alleviation programs and administration.
Strengthening and developing financial policies and procedures for effective management of funds in line with donor requirements and international management standards.
Monitoring and evaluation of program activities to assess their impact on the community in line with the organization’s mission.
Contributing to the emancipation of African and world-wide Deaf and disability communities by actively participating in programs that contribute to the empowerment of all persons with disabilities.

Achievements for the Deaf

Succeeded in securing the inclusion of Sign language in the national Constitution of the Republic of Uganda. (Cultural objective XXIV (c)). Uganda is one of the few countries in the world where Sign Language has been written into the constitution. Finland, South Africa and other countries followed.
UNAD researched, compiled and produced the first ever Uganda Sign Language manual in use. This Manual However needs review to align with the emerging developments.
Together with the Uganda National Institute of Special Education (now a national university), UNAD played an important role in developing the first ever Sign Language dictionary in Uganda.
UNAD has been able to train Sign language instructors who are currently training Sign Language in the country. The demand for sign language training is however huge as compared to the available resources.
UNAD has built the capacity of many Sign Language interpreters. These are helping the deaf people in accessing services like Education, medical services and information.
UNAD has established Deaf Associations covering most districts in the whole country.
With support from the Ministry of Education through the department of Special Needs Education, UNAD has been able to train teachers of the Deaf in Sign Language.
UNAD was able to set up Deaf drama project to sensitize the public about the rights, needs and raise the awareness of the value of Sign Language to Deaf People through theatrical activities.
UNAD has trained parents of the deaf children in sign language to ease communication at home with their deaf children.
UNAD succeeded in persuading the Government and Kyambogo University to start Sign Language research and professional Sign Language Interpretation program at Kyambogo University.
UNAD in 1996 sponsored and successfully campaigned for the world’s first Deaf Member of Parliament who uses Sign language. There are Deaf Councilors in local Government. Emulating Uganda’s example, the South African Deaf community also recently secured a Deaf MP.
UNAD acquired a piece of land which was used to set up a Resource and Vocational Training Centre and an income generating venture for the deaf.
UNAD has been generating income from the sale of t/shirts, sign language dictionaries and from sign language training.
UNAD led a coalition of Organizations of Disabled People to draft the persons with Disabilities Bill and pushed for its enactment into Law by the parliament. This become the PWDs Act 2020.
Taking into account the above achievements the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) which has consultative status with the United Nations (UN) awarded UNAD the “Premio Vittorio Le ralla” Grand Award. The award is the highest of its kind in WFD and is given to one country over 5 years in recognition of its outstanding contribution (achievements) in the field of protection and promotion of Sign Language and Human rights of the Deaf people. Uganda was the first African country to get such an award.

Current challenges

Despite these successes, UNAD is still very far in reaching its big number of deaf members who continue to live a marginalized life. Every day, we receive requests for sign language training and capacity building to deaf people yet our resources are limited. Also a number of problems affect deaf children, women and young in rural areas which need our intervention. The challenges which remain and which need our continues intervention include:

Sign language training to deaf children, family members and service providers in rural areas. Many interested individuals and organizations still need our training services.
Livelihoods support to deaf youth and women. Poverty still remains a major problem deaf people face in Uganda.
Safeguarding deaf people’s rights, limited awareness and Community attitudes, myths and stereotypes which contribute to vulnerability, low self-esteem and isolation.
Illiteracy amongst majority deaf people. There is an increasing drop out from school by deaf children. Additionally, teachers of the deaf and their parents need continuous sign language training.
Inaccessible information and communication which makes deaf people miss out on important information across sectors.
Limited geographical coverage, only few Districts where visible activities are carried out due to resource constraints.