UNAB urges Government to fast-track implementation of Marrakesh Treaty

Kira Municipality, Wakiso: The Uganda National Association of the Blind (UNAB) has renewed its call on government to fast-track the full implementation of the Marrakesh Treaty, six years after Uganda ratified the global agreement on April 23, 2018.

During a press briefing held at UNAB headquarters in Kireka, Namugongo Division, Project Officer for the Braille Text Project, Miss Brendah Khasalamwa, emphasized that while the treaty seeks to ease access to published works for persons who are blind, visually impaired, or print-disabled, Uganda’s progress remains slow and largely rhetorical.

“This landmark international instrument seeks to ease access to published works for persons who are blind, visually impaired, or otherwise print-disabled by allowing copyright exceptions and facilitating cross-border exchange of accessible formats,” Khasalamwa said.

She noted that despite Uganda’s commitment to the treaty, gaps remain in domestication, enforcement, and institutional capacity – with delays in amending copyright laws, low awareness among publishers, and inadequate funding for authorized entities hindering progress.

UNAB Chairperson Mr. Richard Anguyo reiterated the urgency of action, stressing that the lack of implementation continues to deny millions of visually impaired Ugandans equal access to information and opportunities.

“The urgency for full operationalization cannot be overstated when viewed against the scale of visual impairment and disability in Uganda,” he said.

Citing data from the 2024 Uganda Population and Housing Census, Anguyo revealed that about 13.6% of Ugandans live with some form of disability, with “seeing” being among the most commonly cited functional difficulties.

Additional findings from the Disability Data Initiative show that 32.8% of adults aged 15 and above report some kind of functional difficulty — again, with visual impairment being the most prevalent.

UNAB estimates that over 1.2 million Ugandans are visually impaired or print-disabled and currently excluded from adequate access to published educational and cultural materials.

“Given this context, the lack of full implementation of the Marrakesh Treaty imposes a severe ‘book famine’ on many Ugandans, denying them equal opportunities in education, employment, research, and cultural participation,” Anguyo emphasized.

In her remarks, Khasalamwa appealed to Parliament and the Ministry of Justice to expedite amendments to the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act to incorporate Marrakesh-compliant exceptions. She also urged the Uganda Law Reform Commission and Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) to prioritize technical drafting, stakeholder consultations, and the publication of accessible works regulations.

She further encouraged publishers and educational content providers to embrace inclusive planning, willingly license their works for conversion into accessible formats, and cooperate with authorized entities to ensure equitable access.

Civil society organizations and disability advocacy groups were also called upon to support awareness campaigns, capacity-building initiatives, and the monitoring of treaty implementation to ensure accountability and inclusion.

The press briefing followed the International White Cane Safety Day celebrations held on October 15, 2025, in Bukedea District under the theme “Empowering Inclusion Through Accessibility and Mobility.”