Hoima District Union of Persons with Disabilities (HUDIP) is an indigenous, non-profit, non-political, District disability umbrellaNon-Governmental Organization (NGO) established in 1999 by a group of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) due to the gaps that were majorly caused by Disability and poverty.
Despite these gaps, PWDs lacked a unified voice thus, they formed their mouth – piece and platform through which they can talk and be heard. HUDIP targets all categories of Disabilities in the District. HUDIP first got registered in 2004 with Hoima District Local Government as a Community – Based Organization – CBO (Reg. No. 012/04) and later registered with the National NGOs Registration Board (certificate Reg. No. INDR84283031NB) and Permit No. INDP80223031NB) as Non Governmental Organization – NGO.
At first, HUDIP was targeting only Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) but later expanded to also target other marginalized categories of people; specifically women, youth, children, the elderly and people living with HIV/AIDS. HUDIP’s organizational structure consists of the General Assembly (the supreme governing body), the Board which is elected by the General Assembly and is responsible for policy formulation and oversight on implementation of policies and programmes (is headed by the Chairperson) and the Secretariat (implementing unit of the organization) which is headed the Executive Director and Programmes staff, support staff and the organization’s assets.
HUDIP has in the past 15 years implemented various Donor – funded programmes. Its Core Program Areas include Human rights, Sustainable Livelihood and Economic Empowerment, Skills Development, HIV/AIDS and Sexual Reproductive Health, and Social Rehabilitation. HUDIP is affiliated to National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda and it targets all categories of disabilities in Hoima, Kikuube and Buliisa Districts. HUDIP has PWD structures right from village/cell to Sub County/Division level.

The Constitution of the Republic of Uganda promulgated in 1995 aspires for the fair representation of marginalized groups (national objective VI), and in Article 1(4) categorically states that people shall express their will and consent on who shall govern them and how they should be governed, through regular, free and fair elections of their representatives or through referenda. PWDs have been elected and represented at all levels of decision-making from Local Council LCI to parliament in 2021 General elections. According to HUDIP, there are Six (6) Councilors representing PWDs in Hoima City (for the two Divisions and the City Council). The amended Local Government Act 2019 approved Hoima to be become a city bringing different opportunities and challenges for PWDs. The Local Government Act of 2019 empowers Districts and city divisions to enact ordinances and bye-laws to deliver on service delivery for the marginalized groups within their political jurisdiction.
However the elected PWDs Councilors have limited knowledge, skills to effectively translate their election in satisfaction of issues that affect PWDs to feel fully represented in decision-making. Voice study 2018 recognizes that PWDs continue to face challenges that affect their effective participation in District development due to disability-related stigma stemming from their dependent nature and societal beliefs which promotes social exclusion within their communities, poor attitude, and self-pity among PWDs which affects their effective participation in District development. The COVID-19 outbreak has created further isolation for persons with disabilities who often depend on their families and community for survival thus need empowered PWDs Leaders to amplify their voices.
Further analysis by HUDIP noted that Police personnel have poor attitude towards PWDs when seeking redress e.g. women with disability in the face of sexual assault, accessing police services is difficult forPWDs. Courts of Law: There is difficulty in reporting cases concerning PWDs. PWDs are not educated and lawyers are often unwilling to take up these cases. Human rights organizations: Many don’t understand human rights of PWDs and therefore, there is need to create more awareness and even include a disability desk in these organizations.
Goal: To promote democracy and disability inclusive development in Hoima Oil City in Uganda by December 2023.
Objectives:
 To strengthen capacity of elected PWDs leaders to amplify their voices to influence policy making process in the new Oil City Hoima by December 2023.
 To empower duty bearers in the health, education, police, works and production to be disability inclusive and responsive by December 2023 to enact disability inclusive policies.

HUDIP aspires to see increased participation of elected leaders of PWDs in decision making at all political levels in the City.
Secondly Positive attitude from duty bearers towards disability mainstreaming in works, health, education, Production and judiciary sectors.