Food security: people with disabilities in Uganda share barriers and solutions through photography

Economic Empowerment

By highlighting community voices and expertise, our report identifies challenges to food security and opportunities to create positive change.

“It is hard for women with disabilities to get married, so it is hard for us to get land.”

A new report examines micro-level barriers to food security for people with disabilities in northern Uganda — by amplifying the voices of those affected.

Food security: capturing stories from Ugandan people with disabilities

Overcoming Barriers to Food Security: A photo narrative by people with disabilities followed a participatory, qualitative approach centred on individual stories. Participants were invited to take photographs to identify challenges and uncover community-led, disability-inclusive solutions to achieve food security in the West Nile region (Arua and Yumbe districts) and Acholi subregion (Nwoya and Omoro districts).

About 735 million people are facing hunger in the world, an increase of 122 million since 2019, according to the latest State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report from the United Nations.

The photo narrative from Uganda is part of the We Are Able! programme run by ZOA in consortia with Light for the World, The Hague Academy for Local Governance, National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda (NUDIPU), VNG International and Africa Disability Forum. We Are Able! Is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Image of three women who participated in the project: Overcoming Barriers to Food Security: A photo narrative by people with disabilities. The woman in the middle of the three holds a camera.

A project focused on identifying barriers and solutions to food security in Uganda asked people with disabilities to document their findings through photography. © Light for the World

Image of one of the participants in the project: Overcoming Barriers to Food Security: A photo narrative by people with disabilities.

“We know how to access any programme that supports people with disabilities from the government, but we all need to stay connected to help those who are not well informed get the necessary information.” © Light for the World

“I have used my training to empower another person with a visual impairment. They now have 30 mango trees! I have now helped them to start farming chili peppers.” © Light for the World

“My parents only gave me a small piece of land, claiming that our capacity to farm was very low. They said that people with disabilities cannot manage large pieces of land.” © Light for the World

A participant from the Overcoming Barriers to Food Security: A photo narrative by people with disabilities project looking at the camera.

Throughout the research process, a number of strategies were used to ensure the active and meaningful participation of people with disabilities, particularly those with physical, visual and hearing impairments. © Light for the World

A project participant signs the word “oppressed”. © Light for the World

Image of a shirt and pair of jeans trying on a clothesline.

“We have a problem among people with disabilities that we are overtaken by poor self esteem. We fear to confront situations even if we have the skills for success.” © Light for the World

Photovoice aims to put the power of storytelling into the hands of the participant by encouraging them to choose what to capture. © Light for the World

In Uganda, the We Are Able! programme aims to empower and amplify voices, and create resilience among people with disabilities and other excluded groups, particularly those faced with food insecurity. © Light for the World

Image of a woman and man holding hands. They are participants in the project: Overcoming Barriers to Food Security: A photo narrative by people with disabilities.

Access to land, enabling people with disabilities to engage in at least subsistence level agricultural activities, had a tangible impact on people’s abilities to support themselves. © Light for the World

Image of a small, handmade chicken coop.

People with disabilities reported receiving less land than their family members. Many participants were only given enough land to build a small house or to plant a small garden. © Light for the World

Image of one of the participants in the project: Overcoming Barriers to Food Security: A photo narrative by people with disabilities. She is holding banknotes and smiling.

“We started a savings group of three deaf women. It has been going on for over three years. If you want a loan, you can get one.” © Light for the World

Without access to land, some people with disabilities must find alternative ways to make a living. © Light for the World

“Goats have been stolen from me in the past, and it keeps happening because people take advantage of the fact that I cannot see.” © Light for the World

Voices for change: addressing food security challenges

In Uganda, the programme aims to empower and amplify voices, and create resilience among people with disabilities and other excluded groups, particularly those faced with food insecurity in areas of protracted crises.

“This report provides valuable insights into the specific challenges faced by people with disabilities in accessing adequate food,” says Silvester Kasozi, country director for Light for the World Uganda.

“It highlights the community’s perspective and the meaning attributed to these barriers. Moreover, it aims to amplify voices and uncover local solutions for disability inclusion in achieving food security.

“The photovoice approach aims to put the power of storytelling into the hands of the participant through participatory photography. It goes beyond statistics and embraces personal narratives, providing a deeper understanding of the experiences and perspectives of individuals within the community.

“The report emphasises the significance of hearing and valuing these voices, as they hold the key to uncovering local solutions.”

Disability-inclusive solutions for people with disabilities in Uganda

The report recommendations include improving accessibility of communication in the We Are Able! programme and raising awareness of the rights of people with disabilities in the community and with government actors.

Skills development and use of role models are identified as a way to combat the issue of self-exclusion and improve food security for people with disabilities. There is also a need for people with disabilities to have adequate knowledge of the land rights they possess.

This research was designed, coordinated and written by Erika Bojarczuk, content development and documentation specialist at Light for the World.

It was edited by Andera Delfyna, learning and innovation expert at Light for the World.

The project research assistants were Sharon Okello Deogratius, Denish Oweka, Connie Adoch and Alan Nume, with coordination support from Muzamil Ali and Simon Opiyo.

To read the report, visit: https://www.enableme.ug/countrys/uganda/pdf-files/overcoming-barriers-to-food-security-2-.pdf