Hon. Mbabazi Olivia, Member of Parliament representing Persons with Disabilities, told participants at the ANSWER 2nd National Conference held on Friday, September 12, 2025, at the Kigali Conference and Exhibition Village.

Delivering a keynote on “Disability, Dignity, and Representation : From Awareness to Action,” Hon. Mbabazi called on stakeholders to go beyond rhetoric and embrace practical steps that guarantee equal participation of persons with disabilities in every sphere of national life.
“Disability is not inability. But dignity will only be realized when society chooses to see beyond impairment and invests in inclusion,” she said.

Hon. Mbabazi highlighted representation as a cornerstone for progress, pointing to her own role in Parliament as evidence that when persons with disabilities are present at the decision-making table, policies are more responsive and just.

She praised Rwanda’s legal frameworks protecting disability rights but stressed that laws must translate into lived reality. “A policy that is not implemented is a promise broken,” she noted, urging strict enforcement of accessibility standards in schools, public spaces, transport, and digital platforms.

Education and economic empowerment featured strongly in her address. She called for schools that accommodate all learners, teachers trained in inclusive pedagogy, and investment in assistive technologies. On livelihoods, she pressed both the public and private sectors to adopt inclusive hiring practices and ensure social protection systems respond to the needs of persons with disabilities.

Beyond structures and services, Hon. Mbabazi identified mindsets as the biggest barrier. She urged communities to confront stigma and low expectations, and challenged media, faith leaders, and grassroots organizations to champion positive narratives of disability.

She concluded with a rallying call :
“We cannot be satisfied with awareness alone. It is action that changes lives. Let every commitment made here today be visible in schools, in workplaces, in streets that are accessible, and in policies that restore dignity.”

The keynote set the tone for the conference, which brought together educators, policymakers, researchers, and disability advocates to explore how higher education can be more inclusive and equitable.

Story by

NTIRANDEKURA Schadrac
PRO, UR-CE& Communication Focal Point, UR ANSWER Project

https://ce.ur.ac.rw/?Hon-Mbabazi-Olivia-urges-shift-from-awareness-to-action-in-disability-inclusion