Strong together:
Deaf Community Join Hands for Inclusive Healthcare Services in Jinja
Written by: Valereen Mwahulwa | Film and Photography by: George Mukisa
Tuesday, September 23, 2025
Within the clutter of stalls and the hum of daily commerce of Jinja Central Market, the business heartbeat of Jinja, a city in eastern Uganda stands a modest shelter.
It is here that members of the deaf community occasionally gather not just to learn about their health and basic selfcare in a society that often overlooks their needs.
United by their inability to hear or speak in a country where health information is often only spoken about than accessed, the stories shared in this place are always solemn.
Zahara Mutesi, 26,for example, has tasted the systemic shortcomings at one of the public health facilities of this city.
She once sought family planning services and got an intrauterine device implanted. Three months down the line, she began experiencing pregnancy symptoms. Alarmed, she returned to the hospital only to be dismissed.
“They told me I was lying. There was no way I could be pregnant, yet I had taken multiple tests,” she says through an interpreter.
Though a urine sample was taken, no results were ever shared. Zahara left the facility confused and frustrated, feeling invisible in a system not designed for her.
Her experience is not isolated.
According to the 2018 Uganda National Disability Survey, approximately 2 million Ugandans (5.8% of the population) live with hearing loss. Of these, nearly 1 million are children. Despite this significant demographic, the healthcare system has yet to fully adapt to their needs.
Although Uganda has a multi-tiered healthcare system including national referral hospitals, regional and general hospitals, health centers, and community-based services, accessibility remains a persistent challenge.
Rural communities, where most of Uganda’s population lives, are particularly underserved. For people with hearing impairments, even urban health centers can become places of alienation.
Despite the deaf community comprising about 3% of Uganda’s population, the country’s healthcare facilities still lack the crucial support of sign language translators with most of them charging 100,000 UGX (25 dollars) per hour. This is compounded by the country’s appalling 1:25,000 doctor-to-patient ratio.
Zaraha Mutesi shares her experience through an interpreter. Photo by George Mukisa.
In response, the Ministry of Public Service approved a new staffing structure for regional and general hospitals, including positions for sign language interpreters in 2023.
However, as of 2025, the rollout of this policy has been painfully slow. Many facilities still lack trained interpreters or healthcare workers fluent in sign language.
A conversation with Emmanuel Ainebyoona the Senior Communication Officer, Ministry of Health revealed that the lack of resources to operationalize the policy have been bottlenecks but they are now working to tackle the issue of availing sign language interpreters.
“Health accessibility, equity is our number one priority as the Ministry of Health.” said Emmanuel.
Barbara Aliba, a salon worker and member of the deaf community, explains the daily communication challenges she faces.
“When you go to the hospital, the nurses just talk to you, but you don’t understand. There is no interpreter. Even the registration forms have words we can’t read. We need interpreters,” she pleads.
Uganda’s legal framework does support her claim. The Persons with Disabilities Act of 2006 mandates the inclusion of sign language in the training of healthcare workers and requires interpreters to be part of hospital staff.
But enforcement has been weak, leaving countless deaf Ugandans to fall through the cracks.
Dr. Micheal Jjemba speaks to Jinja’s deaf community about health and wellness. Photo by George Mukisa.
Farouk Nsambi, a teacher from Mayuge District, remembers breaking his leg as a boy and receiving inadequate care because of communication issues. Years later, the same issue reemerged when he accompanied his wife to the hospital.
“She was given the wrong medication because the doctor couldn’t understand us. We started writing to the doctor to explain our concerns only then was she treated properly,” he recalls.
Recognizing the need for grassroots solutions, local advocates are stepping in where public systems fail.
Rashid Kigenyi, a youth representative with disabilities in Jinja City, regularly organizes health education meetups for the deaf community. He has partnered with organizations like the Hummingbird Foundation, which focuses on improving health outcomes for marginalized communities.
Led by Michael JJemba, a doctor at Jinja Referral Hospital, the foundation runs outreach programs and health education workshops targeting the deaf.
With a volunteer base of around 180 professionals, the organization educates participants on topics such as nutrition during pregnancy, child health, hygiene, and sexual and reproductive health.
“Our goal is simple,” says JJemba. “Healthcare should be inclusive, respectful, and accessible to all including the deaf. That means respecting their privacy and ensuring they can communicate directly with health workers.”
While not all medical volunteers are fluent in sign language, the organization works closely with interpreters and encourages medical staff to learn the language. This commitment sets an example of what inclusive healthcare can look like.
Through these community-based support groups, the foundation supports over 200 people with hearing impairment to master their health patterns and seek vital care every month.
An interpreter engages the deaf community ahead of the health and wellness conversations. Photo by George Mukisa.
Despite these efforts, the gap remains wide. Uganda’s public health expenditure stands at just 6.5% of GDP, well below the 15% Abuja target agreed upon by African Union member states. This underfunding exacerbates shortages of staff, equipment, and infrastructure especially in services designed for people with disabilities.
Yet the resilience of Uganda’s deaf community remains unshaken. Through advocacy, community led initiatives, and partnerships with empathetic professionals, they continue to fight for a seat at the healthcare table.
And as they gather in that modest shelter in Jinja market learning, connecting, and healing, they are also building a powerful movement. One that speaks volumes, even in silence.
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