KAMPALA – The Government has announced that Uganda is slated to commemorate the 2026 International Deaf Awareness Week from September 14th to 18th, 2026, with national celebrations set for Sembabule District.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The announcement was made by the Minister of State for Disability Affairs, Hon. Achan Joyce Okeny, while addressing a press conference on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala.
The International Deaf commemoration this year will be held under the theme, “Declaring Deaf People’s Human Rights: Innovations that Guarantee Access to Social Services and Empowerment.”
The theme, adopted from the international theme for the International Week of Deaf People, underscores that recognizing and protecting the rights of deaf persons is critical to their full participation and dignity.
Minister Achan noted that this year’s observance is particularly significant as it marks 20 years since the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which Uganda ratified in 2007 and which recognizes sign language as a human right.
She said the week acknowledges progress in promoting the rights of deaf persons, celebrates their contributions to national development, and promotes inclusive development in line with the 2030 Agenda and Uganda’s Vision 2040.
The Minister cited the latest Uganda National Housing and Population Census (2024), which shows that 1,979,613 persons aged 2 and above have difficulty hearing, a prevalence of 4.7 percent, up sharply from 1,083,649 persons recorded in 2014.
“The 2024 Census shows that 1,979,613 people aged two years and above have difficulty hearing. This is 4.7 percent of the population, up from 1,083,649 people in 2014. This is a big number that we cannot ignore because these people play an important role in developing our nation,” Okeny said.
The Minister added that the government has made it obligatory for all television stations to be accessible to deaf persons under the Communication Act 2013 and Article 12(5) of the PWDs Act 2020.
Under economic empowerment, 2,212 deaf persons have benefited from the National Special Grant for Persons with Disabilities, while the Parish Development Model reserves 10 percent for persons with disabilities.
The Government set up two model secondary schools for the Deaf in Mbale and Wakiso, supported over 70 primary and special schools, and boosted university admissions through affirmative action since 2009, with Uganda Sign Language optional in secondary schools since 1995.
According to the Minister, at least five deaf youth benefit annually from vocational skills and startup kits, and over 500 deaf individuals have accessed essential health care through sign language interpretation.
The Ministry has recruited four Sign Language Interpreters while working with the Uganda National Association of the Deaf to finalize [the process], as Kyambogo University continues to train interpreters up to Masters level.
Despite the progress, Hon. Okeny acknowledged challenges including low retention of learners in schools, unemployment, and inadequate sign language interpretation in accessing judicial, health, and other critical services.
The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Oboth Oboth, is expected as Chief Guest. A week-long lineup of activities has been organized, including Uganda Sign Language training for JLOS officials, health workers, and teachers, a cultural gala, and a public lecture on deaf inclusion.
Other activities include school debates, a community health camp offering SRHR services and blood donation, an inclusive football match between deaf and hearing teams, public cleaning, radio talk shows, and a livestream of the main ceremony with Uganda Sign Language interpreters and captioners.
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