PRIMA

The State Minister for Disability Affairs, Hon. Asamo Hellen Grace has cautioned the public to desist from mocking the Deaf People's Rights and Government's Strategy in Enabling Them Access Services.

She assured unqualified sign language interpreters that the laws would bite.

This was at a press briefing at the media center earlier today.

According to the National Housing and Population Census report of the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) 2014, deaf people make up about 3% of the country’s total population hence,

1,083, 600 deaf people in the country.

The State Minister for Disability Affairs, Hon. Asamo Hellen Grace warned the unprofessional sign language interpreters who are hiding behind the profession to gain benefits or earn money illegally.

She highlighted that the law will punish both the individual masquerading and the one permitting the pretender to join them, saying it amounts to corruption.

Asamo also explained some of the characters the public can look out for to identify an unprofessional sign language interpreter.

The state minister also said that sign language interpretation is a profession that should be respected. Adding the government will only allow certificates on sign language training from their recognized institution.

Using sign language, the Executive Director of Uganda National Association of the Deaf (UNAD), Robert Nkwangu explained some of the challenges they face especially in health centers including fear of lack of privacy, since an interpreter has to be present to explain their conditions.

He went on to request the government to provide lessons to health workers to smoothen communication which in return will ease their access to health services.

This year, 2023 the Deaf community will be marking a Golden anniversary since they united to fight for their rights and equality. The celebrations will be conducted under the theme, “Celebrating 50 Years of the Struggle for Deaf People’s Human Rights: A Uganda Where Deaf People Everywhere Can Sign Anywhere.”