Background

CAWODISA is an independent,nongovernment; nonpolitical, nonprofit CSO that was formed in 1997 as a women’s collective response to the unique challenges faced by families of soldiers with disabilities.

Membership is open to all wives and childrenof soldiers with disabilities – currently 3000 women and over 15,000 children. These are residing in Mubende Rehabilitation Center which has units in Mubende and Kyankwanzi districts in Uganda where the soldiers undergo rehabilitation in preparation for resettlement in the wider community.

Through promoting skill development, self–help and peer support, we help families adjust to the need for women to take on major care of their families in the reality of the household head being limited by his disability.

Through fostering income generating projects, we fight poverty and the “hand to mouth syndrome” in the beneficiaries households to improve the present welfare situation and facilitate practical planning for a secure future.Through social support programs that include health programs including HIV/AIDS,literacy improvement programs, independent living skills, Human Rights advocacy and leadership skills enhancement; we foster Positive Living, Hope, self-esteem, and
confidence and information articulation.Working with International Agencies,Uganda Government, Partner CSOs and community; we initiate programs that create interactive activities between the disabled soldiers’ community and the wider
community to demystify both communities to each other and encourage gainful interactions.