Association of Refugees with Disabilities (ARD) is an association composed of all categories of refugee persons with disabilities from different nationalities living in Uganda. The process of formation of ARD started in 2010 by some PWDs refugee leaders targeting to play a significant role within the society in the promotion, the protection and the implementation of rights of persons with disabili
ties and continuous exchange of information and coordination of activities undertaken by refugees in general and refugees with disabilities in particular. ARD was established in Kampala/Uganda and is operating under the sponsor of Refugee Law Project, Faculty of Law, Makerere University. Currently, ARD has 5Associated members and almost 500 followers (beneficiaries) located in the urban area; including refugees with disabilities, parents or caretakers of children with disabilities
Our vision:
A world where refugees with disabilities are included and participate in all humanitarian programmmes.
Our mission:
Raise awareness about disabilities and advocate for the rights of refugees with disabilities within humanitarian context
Our Goals:
1. To foster contact and regular flow of information and harmonize and share problems those are faced by refugees with disabilities and devise means of tackling them.
2. To Lobby and advocate for equal rights, appropriate rehabilitation services for all refugees with disabilities;
3. To Promote inclusion and integration of refugees with disabilities in education, economic empowerment, livelihood and other development programmes in the country;
4. To Build network and collaborate with government and non- governmental organizations including humanitarian actors in order for refugees with disabilities to participate and benefit from
Our values: The values of the organization shall be:
(i) Transparency and accountability;
(ii) Honesty and integrity;
(iii) Diversity and inclusiveness,
(iv) Professionalism and teamwork
Our partnerships:
- DRF: Disability Rights Fund: Capacity building and fundraising
- RLP: Refugee Law Project: Fiscal Sponsor and mentoring
- UNHCR and partners :
Community services, including medical, education, livelihood, and resettlement;
- RELON:
Refugee Led Organization Network: Advocacy for fundraising, organizational empowerment, Trainings,
Our main activities:
Providing peer to peer support for Refugees with Disabilities (RWDs) to facilitate their recovery process from mental health problem and other psychosocial issues they may be experiencing.
Advocating and lobbying for the implementation of the UNCRPD to ensure that relevant stakeholders are more responsive and inclusive on the rights of persons with disabilities.
Formation of RWDs groups at grassroots levels to undertake VSLA (village saving and loan association) and other income generating activities for livelihood support of RWDs.
Advocating for inclusion of persons with disabilities in service delivery and government programs - such as education, health or justice - and in government budget planning and implementation at the local level.
Meetings of ARD organs(semester General meeting and monthly planning meetings of the Executive Committee members, weekly secretariat meeting);
Community awareness meeting on issues relating Refugees with disabilities.
Exchange learning visits to share experiences and disability related information
Membership mobilization to increase membership and reach out to more RWDs
Advocacy meetings with targeted stakeholders and supports to advance the rights of RWDs.
Participation in the commemoration of International days (World Refugee day, International Day for Persons with disabilities, Internal Day of the Convention on the rights of a child, International Day of the African Child).
