Most public buildings and institutions in East Africa lack facilities for people with disabilities, the regional parliament in Arusha was told.

Members of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) have raised concern that people with physical disabilities have totally been forgotten when it comes to public infrastructure, starting with transportation or service premises.

The motion for the resolution of the Assembly, Urging the Council of Ministers and Partner states to adopt and implement measures to promote the rights and provide reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities in the East African Community, was moved by the legislator from Rwanda, Alex Bahati.

Bahati who is also a person with physical disabilities was attending the sessions being assisted by his daughter.

He pointed out that even the East African Community Headquarters’ premises in Arusha lack the special ramps to assist those who are physically challenged to move without assistance.

“And this is the case in all major cities of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, DR Congo and the other three EAC member states of Burundi, Somalia and South Sudan,” Bahati added.

The East African Community is yet to conduct an official regional census to determine how many people in the eight EAC member states are persons with disabilities.

Seconding the motion was another legislator from Rwanda, Fatma Ndangiza who stated that, even ports on entries, including the One-Stop border posts premises have not taken into consideration people who cannot see, hear, speak or physically handicapper.

In busy cities like Dar-es-salaam, Kampala and Nairobi, public commuters are privately owned vehicles with raised centers of gravity and unfriendly entrance doors that cut out physically challenged individuals from access.

Same case applies to long distance, upcountry buses, trains and even planes.

The Legislator from Uganda, Mary Mugwenyi said she was surprised that even the East African Community Premises, including the Legislative Assembly within, lacked facilities for physically challenged people, including parliamentarians.

The legislators agreed unanimously to present the matter before the East African Council of Minister for rapid implementation.

All buildings serving the EAC organs must be adjusted to accommodate people with disabilities, including hearing and visual impairment.

Whereas all Partner States are parties to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Article 27 of which requires States Parties to recognize the right of persons with disabilities to work on an equal basis with others;

Under Article 120(c) of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community, the Partner States undertook to develop and adopt a common approach towards disadvantaged and marginalized groups within the Community, including persons with disabilities.

Also under Article 39(2)(d) of the Protocol on the Establishment of the East African Community Common Market, the Partner States undertook to harmonize their laws, policies and programmes relating to the promotion and protection of the rights of marginalized and vulnerable groups;