Parents in Gicumbi Call for Action Against Isolation of Children with Disabilities

Some parents in Gicumbi District who are raising children with disabilities say they are deeply concerned that a number of families still hold outdated attitudes that lead them to keep children with disabilities hidden at home. According to these parents, such practices prevent the children from interacting with their peers and from participating in everyday community life, which negatively affects their overall growth and development. They are therefore calling on local authorities and institutions responsible for social welfare to intensify awareness campaigns and provide targeted support to parents who continue to hold such beliefs.

The parents note that although progress has been made in promoting the rights of persons with disabilities, some families still perceive disability as a source of shame or something that should be concealed. This mindset, they say, results in children being denied their fundamental rights, including access to education, play, and activities that contribute to healthy physical, emotional, and social development.

These concerns were echoed by Jean Bosco Karanganwa, the Provincial Coordinator for Persons with Disabilities, who said Gicumbi District continues to face challenges related to parental attitudes. “A child with a disability needs social interaction just as much as any other child,” Karanganwa said. “When parents isolate their children, it delays their development and can lead to long-term psychological and social challenges.”

From the government’s perspective, the Governor of Northern Province, Maurice Mugabowagahunde, strongly condemned the practice of confining children with disabilities at home. “Keeping a child with a disability hidden is a form of abuse and a violation of their rights,” the governor said. “No one should be deprived of their rights because of a disability, and such practices go against our laws and national values.”

The governor added that isolation only worsens the challenges faced by children with disabilities. “Locking a child at home does not protect them; instead, it exposes them to loneliness, low self-esteem, and lost opportunities for education and development,” he said, calling on civil society organizations and development partners to work closely with local leaders to change attitudes and support families.

According to the 2022 Population and Housing Census conducted by the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR), Rwanda has 391,775 persons with disabilities aged five years and above, including 216,826 men and 174,949 women. In Gicumbi District, 14,397 persons with disabilities were recorded, comprising 6,417 men and 7,980 women.

These figures show that disability is not a marginal issue, reinforcing the need for collective action by government institutions, communities, and stakeholders to ensure that persons with disabilities are respected, their rights are protected, and their full participation in national development is guaranteed.