Analysis of Social Enterprise Opportunities for People with Disabilities in Uganda

In Uganda, persons with disabilities (PWD) and their caregivers are disproportionately unemployed due to a combination of physical and social barriers, such as inadequate access to Assistive Technology (AT), poor access to education, and pervasive stigma that has resulted in discriminatory hiring practices. As traditional public and social sector interventions struggle to remain financially sustainable amidst the global decline in foreign aid, social enterprise models that align profit with purpose have emerged as viable alternatives.

This report explores the potential of social enterprise to address disability inclusion in Uganda and proposes a comprehensive, inclusive value chain model—EcoWorks Mobility—to be implemented by Mobility Worldwide (MWW) and Pathways to Hope Africa (PTHA). Informed by an extensive literature review and 30 key stakeholder interviews, the proposed model creates employment for PWD and their caregivers within the recycling sector by transforming waste into mobility carts and other AT devices for wholesale purchase by the Government of Uganda. The model also incorporates disability inclusion training as a core component to promote increased social and economic integration of PWD across Uganda. Overall, EcoWorks Mobility offers a holistic, community-driven solution to multiple challenges facing those with disabilities in the country, and if successful it holds the potential to scale in similar contexts across Sub-Saharan Africa.