LIDUPED Foundation Uganda

Who we are

LIDUPED Foundation Uganda is an indigenous organization of persons with disabilities affiliated to the National Union of Persons With Disabilities (NUDIPU) formed in 1991 operating in Lango Sub-region. It brings together all categories of disabilities, including but not limited to physical, sensory and mentally impaired people. LIDUPED has always worked to break the tradition that tended to treat PWDs as objects of charity and not full participants in development processes in Uganda.

Our History

LIDUPED Foundation Uganda was formed in 1991 under the name Lira District union of persons with disabilities. The organization is an umbrella body that brings together all organization of persons with disabilities in Lango Sub-region.
The main purpose of LIDUPED Foundation Uganda is to ensure equalization of opportunities, respect for human rights and full participation in the development process so as to deliver a community without discrimination based on disability.

The organization was rebranded to LIDUPED Foundation Uganda in 2021 with clarified objectives, mission and vision that fosters inclusion of persons with disability in all development process so as not to leave anyone behind.

Our Vision

A community without discrimination based on disability.

Our Mission

Equalization of opportunities, respect for human rights and full participation in the development process.

Areas of Work / Focus

Our organization focuses its resources and activities on these sectors or areas;

Economic Empowerment
Disability inclusion
Gender and Youth Mainstreaming
Disability and Human Rights
Disability and HIV/AIDS
Capacity building
Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights.

Target Beneficiaries

Persons with disabilities, parents/ Caregivers.

Area of Operation

Lango Sub-region, Northern Uganda.

Core Values

Our organization has been able to successfully strive over the years because of these principles;

Accountable and transparency (Honesty and integrity)
Respect
Love and compassion
Team spirit
Equity
Unity in diversity for persons with disabilities.

Objectives

Our objectives are listed below;

Mobilize PWDs to form groups and organizations for collective social action.
Influence the formulation of disability-friendly legislation, focusing on relevant Acts of Parliament, national policies, policy implementation guidelines and by-laws.
Improve on the social and economic situation of PWDs through support for employment opportunities.
Promote the delivery of services to PWDs through networking and collaboration with Government and other service providers.
Enhance awareness on the needs, limitations, potentials and rights of PWDs so as to improve and/or change society's attitude towards them.
Promote the inclusion of PWDs and their interests in mainstream development through removal of social, information and physical barriers in the political, economic, social and technological environment.
To raise awareness on disability issues to the general public and to persons with disabilities themselves with the aim of removing negative attitudes towards PWDs.

What We Do

1. Networking and coordination

Considering that LIDUPED Foundation Uganda is not a service provider organization, we therefore work with other partners as well as Government and private sectors in ensuring that the different needs and concerns of persons with disabilities are comprehensively addressed.
2. Advocacy

As LIDUPED Foundation Uganda, we strive so much to ensuring that issues and concerns of persons with disabilities are heard and given due attention it deserves through influencing formulation of policies that promotes and protects the interest of persons with disabilities.
3. Rights based approach

We strive so much in ensuring that persons with different disabilities as well as the general public gets to know the rights of persons with disabilities and how best they can be fully supported to participate in the development processes. This is done through awareness rising on disability issues.
4. Capacity building

LIDUPED Foundation Uganda puts much of her effort in undertaking the process of developing and strengthening the skills, instincts and abilities of persons with disabilities in order for them to be able to survive, adopt and thrive in a fest changing world. This is done through organizing of capacity building trainings for the leaders and members with disabilities.
5. Research and documentation

LIDUPED Foundation Uganda periodically carryout studies/ surveys on disability related matters and have the findings recorded for purposes of guiding in the development of relevant document e.g The strategic plan for the organization, the advocacy plan etc.
6. Disability mainstreaming

LIDUPED Foundation Uganda is committed to ensuring that processes of supporting programmes to find structured ways of responding to the needs and circumstances of persons with disabilities are put in place and enhanced.
7. Disability inclusion

We strive to ensure that persons with disabilities are included in everyday activities and encouraged to have similar roles with their peers without disability. This is done through ensuring that the barriers such as limited accessibility, limited participation, communication as well as negative attitudes are fully addressed.
8. Gender and youth mainstreaming

LIDUPED Foundation Uganda is one of the very sensitive organization in terms of gender and youth and therefore, we value so much women and youth having increased knowledge and access to services, equal participation in all aspects of life.

Support Us

Become part of the fight for equalization of opportunities, respect for human rights and full participation in the development process inorder to attain a community without discrimination based on disability by making a donation.

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Our Recent Projects

I DECIDE PROJECT

About I Decide Project

I Decide Project is a Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) project addressing low level of accessibility to Adolescent Gender Responsive Youth Friendly SRHR Services.

It uses integrated approaches to address the causes of low access to Sexual Reproductive Health Rights.

I Decide Project is a 4 year project (2022-2025) funded by MFA Finland with a total project fund of 4,070,000 Euros.

Strategies of the Project

Empowering CAY with right information so they can make informed choices about their SRH

Transforming norms, practices and relationships

Strengthening access to quality adolescent friendly, gender responsive SRH services

Strengthening access to skills, resources and opportunities.

Aim

Increasing access to Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) information and services to children, adolescents and youth.

Overall Impact

Children, adolescents and youth in all their diversities have control over their bodies and future in a healthy safe supportive environment.

Project Outcomes

Children, adolescent and youth in all their diversity have the support and the confidence to make informed, responsible, positive and healthy choices about their SRHR and future

Children, adolescent and youth in all their diversity have improved access to quality, inclusive, gender-responsive and adolescent- and youth-friendly SRHR services and especially girls most at risk have stronger social protection

Children, adolescents and youth in all their diversity live in safe and supportive communities that transform gender roles and challenge harmful social and gender norms and stigma around SRHR

Children, adolescents and youth in all their diversity participate and benefit from a vibrant civil society that advocates for increased public investment and improved SRHR policy and promotes equality for and agency of girls.

iSAVE PROJECT

About iSAVE Project

The i-SAVE inclusive Economic Empowerment is an inclusive microfinance programme designed to remove barriers that hinder the inclusion and participation of persons with disabilities.

The barriers exist due to exclusion by the community, service providers, development programs as well as exclusion by design.

Persons with disabilities often have low self-esteem, which also creates barriers to their participation in social and economic activities.

Through supporting the empowerment of persons with disabilities and by understanding and gradually removing the barriers they face, persons with disabilities are better integrated in their local communities, become self-sufficient and can contribute to further development of the community.

This is possible through the unique strategic ties between the disability organizations, microfinance institutions, private sector, academic and research institutions, local government and community which therefore ensures sustainable results.

Target group

The primary target group of iSAVE is women, men and youth with disabilities, as well as their families and all disability categories are included.

Vision

The vision of iSAVE Inclusive Empowerment Program (iSAVE) is, all women, men and youth with disabilities are economically independent, socially recognized and included.

Implementation

LIDUPED Foundation Uganda is implementing iSAVE Inclusive Empowerment Program (iSAVE) in the Districts of Kole, Dokolo, Lira including Lira city, through inclusive savings and credit groups in local communities, capacity building stakeholders, providing entrepreneurship training to target persons with disabilities.

Achievements

285 individual group members have accounts with commercial and microfinance banks

82 i-SAVE groups have accounts with different financial institutions

139 active groups under i-save inclusive EEP in the areas of operations

142 groups have valid registration certificates with local government

111 groups have benefited from external support from government and NGOs including national and Local Special grant, women empowerment and youth livelihood programmes, EMIYOGA, Cotton Development program and others

Success stories registered from 386 members who have started IGAs, built houses and started project of piggery, poultry, goat, rabbit, sheep and cattle rearing.

Our gallery

Frequently Asked Questions

What is LIDUPED Foundation Uganda?

LIDUPED Foundation Uganda is an indigenous organization that brings together all categories of persons with disabilities, including but not limited to physical, sensory and mentally impaired people. We have always worked to break the tradition that tended to treat persons with disabilities as objects of charity and not full participants in development processes in Uganda.
When was LIDUPED Foundation Uganda formed?

LIDUPED Foundation Uganda was formed in 1991 and registered with Lira District local government in 1992 as a community based organization that advocates, promotes, protects and defends the rights of persons with disabilities.
What is the main purpose for the formation of this organization?

The main purpose of LIDUPED Foundation Uganda is advocate, promote, protect and defend the rights of persons with disabilities in Uganda.
Who are our target beneficiaries?

Our organization focuses mainly on persons with disabilities and thier parents / caregivers.
How can one become a beneficiary?

Well, the process is simple. If someone has a physical, sensory or mental Impairment, he or she can become a beneficiary by going to our Office, identiying his or herself and then they are assessed and assigned to a suitable beneficiary program.
Where does our organization operate?

LIDUPED Foundation Uganda is mandated to operate nationally, however because of limited resources we are currently operating in the districts of Lira City, Lira District, Alebtong District, Kole District, Apac District and Kwania District in Lango Sub-region, Northern Uganda.
Where is LIDUPED Foundation Uganda main office located?

Our head office is located at Plot 5-7 along Ngetta - Kitgum Road
Lira City East Division, Lira City, Northern Uganda.
P.O. Box 132 Lira, Uganda.

What they are saying about us

I am really gratefull for the opportunity LIDUPED Foundation Uganda granted to me during my internship program. I got exposed to the grass root communities that enabled me to acquire the accessment, work relationship skills among others.

Okongo Timothy Osinde

Intern

I appreciate LIDUPED so much because I gained exposure, Skills and Knowledge in handling persons with disabilities and clients. I am also included in the organization as a person with disability and I was provided with a mobility device to enhance my movement.

Akao Winnie

Beneficiary

I express my heartfelt gratitude for the incredible experience I gained during my internship program at LIDUPED Foundation Uganda. The warm welcome and support from the entire team and the skills I acquired made a lasting impact on my personal and professional growth.