Buyende District Woman Member of Parliament Sarah Namulondo has pledged to raise concerns affecting students with disabilities at Kyambogo University in Parliament, following a visit during the Basoga Nsete celebrations.
Namulondo, who attended the celebrations as Guest of Honour, said she was deeply moved by accounts from students with visual and physical disabilities, who shared the challenges they face in pursuing their education.
She said the interaction exposed the barriers that continue to prevent some learners with disabilities from accessing an inclusive and supportive learning environment.
Of particular concern was the lack of assistive learning equipment for blind students, which she said makes academic work difficult.
According to Namulondo, the high cost of assistive learning devices means that many students from underprivileged backgrounds cannot afford the technology they need to participate effectively in their studies.
“My visit to Kyambogo University as Guest of Honour for the Basoga Nsete celebrations left me with a heavy heart,” Namulondo said.
“Listening to students with visual and physical disabilities share their daily academic struggles was truly humbling. For blind students, the absence of assistive learning machines remains a major barrier.”
She noted that the cost of these devices continues to disadvantage learners whose families cannot afford them, potentially limiting their educational opportunities.
Namulondo said she had committed herself to taking the students’ concerns to Parliament and advocating for practical interventions to make education more accessible to all learners.
“I have made a firm commitment to voice their concerns in Parliament and push for solutions that will make learning inclusive for all. Every learner matters,” she said.
Her pledge brings attention to the need for greater investment in assistive technology, improved learning infrastructure and support systems for students with disabilities in institutions of higher learning.
The concerns raised by the students also highlight the importance of ensuring that disability inclusion goes beyond admission to universities to encompass access to learning materials, appropriate technology and the necessary academic support.
Namulondo’s commitment places the needs of learners with disabilities on the parliamentary agenda, with a call for solutions that ensure financial circumstances or physical limitations do not prevent students from pursuing their educational ambitions.
For students who depend on assistive technology to access information and participate in academic activities, improved access to such equipment could make a significant difference in their university experience.
