Arua, October 22, 2025 – In a bid to foster inclusion and self-reliance, the Action for Transformation of Youths with Disabilities (ACT-YOD) has announced ambitious plans to utilize a $10,000 grant—equivalent to approximately 34 million Ugandan shillings—from The Global Fund for Human Rights.

The funding will drive a year-long project aimed at empowering youth with disabilities through advocacy, skill-building, and community engagement in Arua City.

The initiative was unveiled today during an inception meeting at the Social Center in Police Cell, Central Division, Arua City. The gathering focused on creating opportunities for youth with disabilities to showcase their talents, advocate for sustainable rights, and access essential government services like health and education.

Twalib Ayub Ali, ACT-YOD’s Executive Director and a youth living with hearing impairment, provided an overview of the organization. Established in June 2024 as a registered community-based group, ACT-YOD seeks to amplify the voices of persons with disabilities. “Our project will strengthen community awareness and engagement on the rights and governance inclusion of youth with disabilities,” Twalib stated, emphasizing the need to unite individuals, generate income avenues, and highlight unique talents within the community.

Opima Emmanuel, Chairperson of Persons with Disabilities in Mvara and Arua Hill wards, praised the effort, urging unity in implementation. “This initiative will make youth with disabilities productive members of society and ease access to government services,” he said, pledging full support from his community.

Echoing the call for solidarity, Angutoko Jacinto, Chairperson of the Arua City Union of Persons with Disabilities (ACUPED), shared how unity has propelled their growth from city-level advocacy to ward-based networks, including specialized groups for vision and hearing impairments. He lauded ACT-YOD’s past milestones, such as training sign language interpreters, organizing football tournaments for the deaf since the 2021 National Deaf Week, and providing essential resources like an office, transport, WiFi, and internet access. “These efforts have made the deaf community feel truly part of Arua,” Angutoko noted, calling on partners to sustain such support.

Project Coordinator Maxwell Asiku detailed the “Empowering Youth with Disabilities for Inclusive Governance” (LEAD Project), running from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026. Targeting 100 direct beneficiaries—youth with disabilities—and over 500 indirect ones, the initiative will fund activities including community barazas, capacity-building for youth councils and leadership structures to push for disability-inclusive policies, and development of a profiling tool to map and collaborate with local youth groups and organizations.

Asiku stressed the importance of collective backing: “With unity, we can build a freer, more accessible community for persons with disabilities.” He highlighted ACT-YOD’s broader mission to raise awareness and streamline access to public services, ensuring no one is left behind.

The meeting underscored a growing momentum in Arua City for disability rights, with stakeholders optimistic that the LEAD Project will not only empower individuals but also foster lasting governance reforms.

Written by

Andrew Ogwang

Andrew Ogwang is a dedicated Ugandan journalist based in the Northern Region, with a focus on economic reporting, current affairs, and social issues affecting the country. Ogwang has contributed to several local media outlets, including print and digital platforms like The Northern Press, where he has covered topics ranging from policy developments and community stories to investigative pieces on development challenges in Uganda.