Involvement of people with physical disabilities in bagwere cultural activities before and during disability- inclusion in Uganda

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to examine the involvement of people with physical disabilities in the Bagwere cultural activities before and during disability inclusion. The objectives of the study were; to analyze the involvement of people with physical disabilities in the Bagwere cultural activity of traditional marriage before and during disability- inclusion, to explore the involvement of people with physical disabilities in the Bagwere cultural activity of traditional music before and during disability- inclusion and to examine the involvement of people with physical disabilities in the Bagwere cultural activity of family meetings before and during disability- inclusion. An approach to qualitative research was adopted. Twenty-two (22) participants in the qualitative study were interviewed by the researcher. The nature of the study on disabilities attracted the volunteers. The study results revealed that before disability inclusion, people with physical disabilities were discriminated, experienced gross negative attitude, social rejection, activity limitation, labelled as ‘walugono‘ by the community and family members and this limited their participation in Bagwere cultural activities. During disability inclusion, the results revealed that there was community and family change of attitude which has resulted to social inclusion, activity participation of people with physical disabilities in Bagwere cultural activities. The study concludes that people with physical disabilities experienced a number of challenges before disability inclusion that limited them from inclusion in Bagwere cultural activities and during disability inclusion, change of community and family negative attitudes facilitated the inclusion of people with physical disabilities in Bagwere cultural activities. The study recommends that in order to raise public awareness of the capacity of individuals with physical disabilities to go about their daily lives, organizations for and by persons with disabilities are necessary.