NUDOR celebrates major gains in empowering persons with disabilities across Rwanda

Elias Hakizimana Nov 4, 2025Nov 4, 2025 0 Comments

By Elias HAKIZIMANA.

The National Union of Disability Organizations of Rwanda (NUDOR) has hailed 2025 as a year of remarkable progress in improving the lives of persons with disabilities through education support, financial empowerment, and inclusion initiatives.

Speaking during the NUDOR Partners’ Meeting held in Kigali on October 31, 2025, Dr. Beth Mukarwego Nasiforo, the President of NUDOR, said the organization has registered impressive results in its mission to promote equal opportunities and social inclusion for persons with disabilities.

“This year, NUDOR achieved a lot,” Dr. Mukarwego said. “We increased the number of children whose school fees we support in both primary and secondary schools. We also helped persons with disabilities to form savings associations (VSLAs), and many of them are now financially empowered—some have even started businesses and employ others.”

**Dr. Mukarwego Nasiforo, President of the National Union of Disability Organizations of Rwanda (NUDOR), speaks to the media during the NUDOR Partners’ Meeting held in Kigali on October 31, 2025.**

Dr. Mukarwego further highlighted that NUDOR has provided prosthetic limbs to several beneficiaries and trained teachers to better support children with disabilities in schools.

“Through our project ‘We Can Work’, we plan to train young people with disabilities to help them discover their talents so that every child can choose what they love to do,” she added.

“Our goal is to train up to 1.3 million youth within the next eight years. This year, we trained 150 young people from Nyamasheke and Kigali City, and next year we plan to extend the program to two more districts.”

She noted that between 60% and 70% of persons with disabilities have achieved a fair level of development, but more effort is needed to ensure inclusive progress in both rural and urban areas.

“Regarding Sign Language, a request has been submitted to Parliament,” she explained. “The dictionary has already been developed, and we are now waiting for the government’s approval for Sign Language to be taught in schools. The progress made so far is promising.”

NUDOR’s Executive Secretary, Jean Damascène Nsengiyumva, also shared insights on the organization’s achievements in financial empowerment. He revealed that since the creation of savings and loans association groups in 2013, the initiative has expanded significantly.

“Today, we have more than 2,000 savings and loan groups comprising around 68,000 people,” Nsengiyumva said.

Jean Damascène Nsengiyumva, Executive Secretary of NUDOR, speaks to journalists about the organization’s progress in empowering persons with disabilities financially through savings and loans groups.

“They have collectively saved 1.4 billion Rwandan francs from their own means, and 800 million francs of that is being used to run small businesses.”

He praised the dedication and resilience of persons with disabilities who are now not only self-reliant but also contributing to Rwanda’s economic growth.

“It’s impressive to see persons with disabilities saving their own money, borrowing from their savings, and running businesses,” he said.

“Some are even employing other people without disabilities. They have gained self-confidence and are now able to pay for their own medical insurance and children’s education.”

Nsengiyumva also commended the government for promoting inclusion through national strategies such as the National Strategy for Transformation (NST2), which emphasizes the inclusion of persons with disabilities in development programs.

“The NST2 is clear about inclusion, and we appreciate and thank the government for that,” he said. “The next step is for all of us—citizens and development partners—to ensure that persons with disabilities are supported to go forward.”

Despite the gains, Nsengiyumva pointed out challenges that still require attention, including negative social attitudes and gaps in inclusive education.

***A Sign Language interpreter translates the discussion for a participant during the NUDOR Partners’ Meeting held in Kigali on October 31, 2025.***

“There are still people who doubt the ability of persons with disabilities to run businesses,” he said. “We also face challenges in education—some children with disabilities are still not enrolled in school. We need to change community mindsets and continue training teachers to accommodate them effectively.”

As NUDOR and its partners look ahead, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to building a more inclusive Rwanda where persons with disabilities can thrive as equal contributors to the country’s social and economic transformation.