The EDID-GHDI thematic study, Women with Disabilities in Conflict and Post-conflict Settings (2023–24), examines the unique experiences and challenges faced by women and girls with disabilities in post-conflict contexts and reconstruction​ in Uganda.  

The findings are to inform policymaking, advocate for policies that improve the lives of women with disabilities, raise public awareness, as well as advocate for their increased inclusion in the United Nations Women, Peace and Security Agenda (UNSCR 1325). 

The research was carried out in Gulu City, Acholi subregion in northern Uganda between April 2023 and March 2024 by a team of Ugandan and Canadian student researchers in collaboration with the Women’s Advocacy Network: Fatuma Abiya, Docus Atyeno, Liliane Pari Umuhoza, Alice Kathleen Lakwech, and Khayria Mansouri—under the guidance of Professor Erin Baines at the University of British Columbia (UBC), Canada, and Evelyn Amony, Chairperson of the Women’s Advocacy Network in Uganda. The team worked closely with local communities, drawing on the rich knowledge and lived experiences of women with disabilities, to shed light on the continuing impacts of the conflict and their navigation of post-war environments. 

According to student researcher Liliane, “We can testify that, despite facing profound hardships, they demonstrate immense resilience. Their courage and strength should inspire all of us to advocate for a more inclusive world where no one is left behind. We hope this research serves as a call to action, highlighting the urgent need for improved policies and greater community awareness around gender, disability, and post-conflict recovery. By providing better support systems, access to services, and opportunities for women with disabilities, we can contribute to their continued empowerment and ensure they thrive in post-war settings.” 

As a recent graduate from the Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs program, Liliane presented findings at the Research Network for Women, Peace and Security Symposium in Ottawa, Ontario, in 2023. There, she shared insights from working on this project in Uganda, highlighting effective strategies for engaging with communities in post-conflict settings. The Symposium allowed her to connect with other women researchers, activists, and grassroots organizers, creating a space for shared learning and collective empowerment. Alice Kathleen Lakwech, a recent graduate from law school in Uganda, represented the team at the Engendering Disability-Inclusive Development (EDID) conference in South Africa in 2024, where she discussed disability-related challenges based on our research. This experience for her as a young researcher broadened her understanding of disability studies from different global perspectives. 

The research and report were made possible with the support of the SSHRC PG partnership Engendering Disability-Inclusive Development-Genre, handicap et développement inclusif (EDID-GHDI); the Research Network on Women, Peace and Security (RN-WPS); the Women’s Advocacy Network (WAN) Uganda; and the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, UBC. 

 Read the EDID-GHDI Research/Thematic Report: 

Lakwech, A. K., Fatuma, A., Docus, A., Umuhoza, L. P., Mansouri, K., & Baines, E. (2026). Disability and the Women, Peace and Security Agenda: Learning from experiences in post-conflict northern Uganda. [Report]. EDID-GHDI, University of Guelph.  

Read the blog describing Erin Baines’ 2023 research project:  

‘I am like a garden that flourishes and grows’: Women with disabilities in conflict and post-conflict settings.