By Brian Atuhura
The Uganda Society for Disabled Children(USDC),in partnership with the National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda(NUDIPU),has launched a new project aimed at promoting inclusive education and empowering girls and women with visual impairments in Uganda.

The project,dubbed"Strengthening Educational Inclusion for Girls and Women with Visual Impairments in Uganda,"was launched during an inception meeting held at the District Headquarters.

Speaking during the meeting,the Head of Programmes at USDC,John Mary Musinguzi,said the project will primarily focus on children with visual impairments,with emphasis on girls,while NUDIPU will focus on empowering girls and women with visual impairments to participate in advocacy and decision-making processes within their communities.

Musinguzi said USDC will identify children with visual impairments from between two and three selected schools in each beneficiary district,based on available statistics on visual impairment.

He said the selected beneficiaries will receive assistive devices and learning materials,including Braille machines,Braille paper and white canes,among others,to support their education and mobility.

Musinguzi revealed that at least shs 700 million has been committed to the two-and -a-half-year project,which is being implemented in four districts,Masindi,Masaka,Jinja and Nebbi.

He said the districts were selected based on the high number of reported cases of visual impairment.

The project commenced on July 20,2026 and will run until December 31,2028.

According to Musinguzi,the project is expected to directly benefit approximately 500 children with visual impairments aged between three and 18 years across the four districts.

Of these,350 will be girls,representing 70 percent,while 150 will be boys,representing 30 percent.The beneficiaries will include both children in school and those who are out of school.

The project will also engage more than 300 parents and caregivers,120 teachers and 10 women with visual impairments,who will be supported to serve as advocates and champions for inclusive education in ten targeted schools.

Representing the District Chairperson at the close of the engagement,District Vice Chairperson Bright Mugume welcomed the initiative,saying it would complement the district's efforts to promote inclusive education and ensure that children with visual impairments have equal opportunities to access education and participate in community life.