Our Story
IDIWA was founded in 2000 out of a shared vision by a group of determined women with disabilities who sought to challenge the deeply rooted inequalities in their society recognizing that women and girls with disabilities faced double discrimination first as women and as persons with disabilities, limiting their participation in community and national development.
From humble beginnings in Busoga sub-region, IDIWA has grown into a nationally recognized women-led Organization of Persons with Disabilities with a strong grassroots foundation and a strategic presence across the country. Guided by the human rights frameworks and feminist principles, IDIWA continues to advance gender equality, social justice, and empowerment through advocacy, capacity building, and community-driven action.
In its formative years, IDIWA focused on raising awareness about the rights of women and girls with disabilities and building their leadership and advocacy capacity. The organization mobilized communities to recognize disability not as a limitation, but as a dimension of human diversity deserving respect and inclusion. Through community-based rehabilitation, education, and empowerment programs, IDIWA laid the foundation for a movement that champions the voices of women and girls with disabilities at every level of society.
As progress unfolds, IDIWA shifted its strategy to focus on systemic and transformative change becoming a leading voice in gender and human rights advocacy, addressing root causes of inequality and violence against women and girls with disabilities.
During this period, IDIWA:
- Influenced the enactment of five district ordinances and policies on inclusive education in Iganga District, sexual and reproductive health in Kamuli District, employment in Mayuge District, sexual and gender-based violence and climate justice in Kaliro District.
- Created 19 disability-inclusive budget lines through advocacy and presentation of 23 position papers to local governments.
- Supported prosecution of over 250 GBV cases, including rape, defilement, and land disputes, many resolved through community-based mediation.
- Trained 500 paralegals, now recognized as first responders to GBV cases and human rights defenders.
- Enhanced accessibility in schools, health centers, and police stations through construction of ramps, provision of wheelchairs, and facilitation of sign language interpretation during court sessions.
IDIWA also spearheaded the creation of the Busoga Gender-Based Violence and Disability Rights Network, uniting 29 groups of women and girls with disabilities, feminist organizations, and community-based associations to collectively end violence and promote equality.
IDIWA’s impact has grown significantly in recent years through innovative programs that link gender equality, disability inclusion, health, climate action, and livelihoods.
Key achievements include:
IDIWA has reached 101000 women and girls with disabilities in Eastern Uganda, with different programs, including:
- Enabling 36,000 adolescent girls and young women with disabilities to access gender-responsive sexual and reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria services.
- Establishing 37 disability-friendly safe spaces that have provided services to over 19,700 girls and young women with disabilities.
- Training 900 health workers on gender-transformative and disability-inclusive service delivery
- Distributing 1,000 goats to support economic recovery of women and girls with disabilities.
- Supporting 16,000 children with disabilities with medical rehabilitation and assistive devices
- Facilitating education for over 17,000 children and youth with disabilities, leading to diplomas, degrees, and employment opportunities
- Strengthening 27 parents’ and caregivers’ groups, linking them to government programs and livelihood support initiatives
IDIWA’s Institutional Strengthening efforts have also been pivotal; through effective change management, governance policies, and sustainability strategies, the organization has nurtured emerging networks such as the Girl Power Community Uganda, Girls and Young Women with Disabilities Environmental Defenders’ Network, and the Women with Albinism Associations amplifying voices that have historically been marginalized.
IDIWA integrates several critical priorities across its programs:
- Promoting digital access as a human right for persons with disabilities, through ICT enabling social, political, and economic participation.
- Supporting women human rights defenders and survivors through trauma-informed care, mental health, and self-care initiatives.
- Empowering WGDs as environmental defenders and leaders in climate-smart agriculture, land rights advocacy, and disaster resilience planning.
- Conducting annual Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices surveys and ensuring that disability inclusion is central to HIV/AIDS prevention and response.
Over the past years, IDIWA has remained steadfast in its mission to empower women and girls with disabilities and their families to maximize their potential and improve their quality of life. Our journey reflects a story of resilience, innovation, and transformative leadership.
Today, IDIWA is a part of the ecosystem of disability, women’s rights and feminist movements that continue to challenge inequality, inspire collective action, and create a violence free and inclusive future where women and girls with disabilities are self-reliant, emancipated, and respected.