By Our Reporter
In a bid to bridge the employment gap for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), Light for the World, a global disability and development organization conducted a career fair bringing together persons with disabilities and potential employers.
The event which was graced by various HR professionals in the private sector, civil society and government institutions was held at Hotel Africana on Friday.
Through the fair, persons with disabilities had the opportunity to network, share experiences and discuss opportunities with the potential employers.
Speaking at the event, Silvester Kasozi, the Country Director Light for the World noted that the career fair provides opportunities for Persons with Disabilities to interact with potential employers for possible job placements which in turn would help improve their livelihoods.
“This career fair is one of the avenues through which we bring Persons with Disabilities and potential employers together in one place so they can develop databases. By doing this, we are increasing opportunity for Persons with Disabilities to be able to gain employment and improve on their livelihood.” Silvester Kasozi said.
“In Uganda, we have about 2.6 million Persons with Disabilities and only 15% of these are employed. Therefore this is also an opportunity where employers who have worked with Persons with Disabilities to share their experiences so that other employers can also be inspired to bring them on board.” Kasozi added.
The career fair was organized in partnership with Federation of Uganda Employers (FUE) and Uganda Business and Disability Network (UBDN) to commemorate the International Day day for people living with Disabilities.
Mustaphar Fagayo, a Human Resource and Administration Officer at Federation of Uganda Employers, commended the fair for providing a platform to raise awareness for PWDS as capable among employers.
“I am happy for this career fair because its one of the ways through which we can fight unemployment among PWDs,” Mustaphar Fagayo said. “Our role as FUE is to create awareness among employers that PWDs have the same abilities as any other able-bodied persons. However, companies need to put in place facilities that enable them to perform, for example ramps in storeyed buildings.”
Although Uganda has a rich policy and legislative framework for disability inclusion, research has shown that People with disabilities are routinely discriminated against in the recruitment and selection process and are liable to exploitation at work, often earning less than other employees without disabilities.
It further indicates that barriers for formal employment of persons with disabilities include stigmatization, the actual and perceived skills and education levels of persons with disabilities as well as low self-esteem and self-confidence of people with disabilities, among others.