Fostering participation of persons with disabilities in church activities: a case study of Kampala Catholic Archdiocese

Abstract

Persons with disabilities (PWDs) remain among the most marginalized groups in religious institutions, particularly regarding inclusive participation in faith-based programs. Despite the Catholic Church’s strong tradition of social justice and theological commitment to human dignity, there is limited empirical knowledge on how the Church integrates PWDs into its spiritual and social life. This study examined the perceived contribution of the Catholic Church in fostering the participation of PWDs in church activities within the Kampala Archdiocese. The research was guided by four objectives: to identify church programs aimed at promoting inclusion; assess accessibility of services for persons with visual and hearing impairments; and analyze challenges faced both by church leaders and PWDs in fostering participation. A qualitative descriptive research design was employed for this study and data was collected through in-depth interviews with seven PWDs and five church leaders from five selected parishes. A sign language interpreter was recruited to support in conducting interviews with participants who had hearing impairment. Interviews with hearing-impaired participants and mini observational visits were also conducted to assess accessibility features and the presence of inclusive practices during services. Data was thematically analyzed following Braun and Clarke’s (2006) framework. Findings revealed that although some parishes occasionally included PWDs through provision of sign language interpretation services, organizing charitable events and enabling access to physical support, such as walking facilities, efforts were informal, sporadic, and not backed by a written diocesan policy or guidelines. Accessibility remains a major challenge: churches often lack ramps, tactile markers, braille materials and trained personnel in disability inclusion which limited meaningful engagement for PWDs. Inadequate training; constrained budgets and lingering cultural misconceptions were cited as barriers to inclusive ministry by church leaders. Meanwhile, PWDs reported communication barriers, social stigma and exclusion from leadership roles. The study concludes that while the Catholic Church possesses a strong moral and theological foundation for inclusion, it lacks structured and sustainable mechanisms to realize it. For meaningful participation, the Church must develop a model and policies that prioritize disability inclusion in its pastoral agenda. Recommendations include training clergy in inclusive theology, developing disability-friendly liturgical tools, enacting institutional policies on accessibility, and partnering with disability advocacy organizations.