People with physical disabilities in Rwanda, request the Government and businessmen that the ordering of passenger cars and the construction of infrastructure including roads and buildings, should also be considered, and they should be provided with a way to facilitate access to the services they need.
In an interview with Panorama.rw newspaper, people with disabilities say that although they are no longer marginalized in families and in other places, there are still some programs that they are not given time for and it is one of the ways to improve their lives. ‘the future.
Some of them say that not being able to go anywhere they want because of the constraints of not having vehicles available to facilitate their journeys, they feel like they are deprived of their rights and it is one of the most lonely things.
Lt (Rtd) Joseph Sabena, from Gasabo District, Rusororo Sector, says that the lack of vehicles for people with disabilities, especially wheelchair users, makes them stuck at home and they also go where others are.
He says, “Actually, I see this as a denial of rights, because you don’t go anywhere without pushing and they need to be paid, sometimes you don’t even have it. When you get to the car it’s not easy to get on because they don’t have a bicycle crossing. As long as there are no cars to help us move and roads that make us comfortable as it should be, we will stop traveling.”
He continued, “It makes us feel at home. So I feel that car importers should think about us, remember that we also need to travel, and come up with a way to make it easier for us.”
Mukamana Speciose from Kagarama sector, Kicukiro district, says that she is ashamed to see herself being picked up to see how to get on the bus, because there is no way or way to make it easier for people with physical disabilities to enter the bus.
Karangwa François Xavier is the head of the umbrella of organizations of persons with disabilities in the fight against HIV&AIDS and for Health Promotion. He says that a person with a disability has the freedom to travel but the reality is that it is not done.
He continues to say that this is due to the fact that there are passengers who do not know the rights of people with disabilities because they are often seated in places reserved for others, and the driver would let them off, resulting in arguments.
He says, “There is a problem of lack of knowledge on the part of transport operators and passengers. Another thing is that the laws are not being followed as they should be, and there are some that are not there and should be there. The rights of people with disabilities are not respected as they should be, because the cars are too high to reach them; it takes to lift him up. So raising him is a violation of human rights.
Think of it as if you were a parent to strangers who would pick you up! Even if they provide you with the service, it does not eliminate your risk. What was easy was for a person to sit in a reserved seat like others and even find a place to put his bicycle, he would go out and get off at the designated place and pass by with his bicycle and continue his journey.”
He continues to say that what they are asking the government to do is to create laws and policies at the national level, the officials responsible for teaching drivers and others the rights of people with disabilities, and with the cooperation of all institutions, would help people with disabilities to be free.
The 2022 General Population and Housing Census revealed that there are 391,775 people with disabilities in Rwanda; that is, it is 3.4% of the total population in Rwanda. There are 216,826 women and 174,949 men. In the year 2023, a census will be conducted that will accurately reflect the true number of people with disabilities in Rwanda.
