The-UNAPD-Updates-Volume-1-2014

Volume: 1, Issue 1 2014 6
DRF PROJECT LAUNCH GRAND IMPERIAL HOTEL KAMPALA
Vincent Lyazi Kafeero
Project officer
Accessibility Improvement project
2014
This year at UNAPD, we saw
more support from the
Disability Rights Fund (DRF)
to implement the Accessibility
Improvement Project with the
main aim of improving physical
accessibility to private and public
buildings in Kampala so that
Persons with Physical Disabilies
can enjoy their inherent rights
without any barriers. Under this
project UNAPD wants to among
others:-
a)Achieve inclusion of accessibility
standards in the implementaon
guidelines/Codes & Regulaons of
the Building Control Act 2013
b) Create awareness of the
existence of the Building Control
Act 2013
c)Build capacity of PWDs on the
Act,
d)Engage the construcon
industry such as architects,
engineers, property developers
to use accessibility standards
during the design, approval, and
construcon and commissioning
of building projects in order to
improve the accessibility situaon
in the country.
DRF project launch Grand Imperial Hotel Kampala
The project acvies are in line
with current laws and CRPD
implementaon for example:-
a)The acvies bring out the issue
of following up on accessibility
improvement proposals to
authories for relevant changes/
modificaon following conducon
of survey of status of accessibility
b)Accessibility improvement
to enable PWPDs to live
independently and parcipate fully
in all aspects of life
c)Popularizing accessibility standards
to guide in the creaon of accessible
environment and the inclusion
of standards in the codes and
implementaon regulaons of the
Building Control Act 2013
d)Raising awareness and training
stakeholders such as architects,
engineers, physical planners,
inspectors, contractors, property
developers on accessibility issues
facing persons with disabilies
among others to facilitate
accessibility to buildings and other
facilies open to the public
Key project activities include:
•Hold advocacy meetings with the
fi rst parliamentary council, legal
affairs committee of parliament
and ministry of works and transport,
Ministry of Justice & Constitutional
affairs, to negotiate and infl uence
the incorporation of accessibility
indicators in the regulations, building
codes and implementation guidelines
of the building control Act
•Train Kampala, Wakiso UNAPD district
membership & Key Stakeholders on
the Building Control Act
•Train UNAPD staff, BOD & National
Accessibility Audit Team (NAAT) on
theBuilding Control Act 2013 (BCA)
•Train KCCA physical planning
committee and inspectors on
accessibility
•Partner with Uganda Society of
Architects (USA) to plan & conduct
continuous professional development
seminar on accessibility
•Hold press conference on status of
accessibility improvement
•Hold meetings with the line
ministry (Ministry of Works) to
ensure quick development and
inclusion of accessibility standards
in the implementation guidelines&
regulations of the Act
•Follow up with the owners of the
audited buildings in Kampala during
the previous DRF project in order to
establish compliance with Accessibility
Standards.
•Printing of IEC materials in order to
disseminate information regarding the
Building Control Act & Accessibility
Standards.
•Partner with the NAAT to monitor,
audit, advice on improved accessibility
situation of structures in Kampala.
•Hold lobby meetings with Makerere
and Nkozi University departments
of Architecture to start a course
unit on accessibility in their training
curriculum.
Vision: Society where Persons with Physical Disabilities are accorded rights enjoyed by all citizens