Laura Kanushu

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Laura Kanushu
Honorable
Kanushu Laura.jpg
Laura Kanushu
Member of Parliament for People with Disabilities
Assumed office
2021
Personal details
NationalityUgandan
Party National Resistance Movement
OccupationLawyer, Politician, Human Rights Advocate

Laura Kanushu is a Ugandan lawyer, politician and legislator, she represents the people with disabilities in the parliament of Uganda, she Is a member of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) a party under the chairmanship of Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President the Republic of Uganda. [1] [2] [3] [4]

Contents

Background and Education

Kanushu did a Bachelors of Law degree from the Makerere Universtiy Law School. [5]

Career

Leah Kanushu is a human rights advocate especially for people with disabilities. She is the executive director of Legal Action for People with disabilities (LAPD). [6] [7] [8] [5] [9] [10]

She is an executive member of the Uganda women Parliamentary Association (UWOPA) as the People with Disabilities representative. [11] She has addressed the discrimination and structural barrier faced by people with disabilities in education, public infrastructure and legal access. [12] She has spoken publicly about the challenges disabed students face in accessing university facilities and the importance of inclusive law and policy. [5]

As an MP, Kanushu has been involved in legislatives commitees that deal with social development and governance: She is the Deputy Chairperson of the Committee on Gender, Labour and Social Development. [13]

In the parliament of Uganda, Kanishu is a member of the committee on rules, privileges and discipline. [14] She is also a member of the Gender Labour and Social development committee. [15]

In 2023, she was named a member of a select parliamentary committee to investigtae operations at the National Social Security Fund(NSSF) an inquiry into governance and fund management. [16]

Policy Advocacy

Kanushu has used her Parliamentary platform to advocate for social protection measures and disability inclusive policies. Forexample, she highlighted the need for serve disabilities grant a proposed monthly support for families caring for children with profound disability to improve livelihoods and reduce barriers to education and care. [17]

She has also advocated for improved economic empowerment programs targeting women and PWDs, welcoming government initiatives such as the GROW project aimed at supporting women in business. [18]

Kanushu has spoken out on health and inclusion issues like the need for inclusive HIV service and address stigma and improve access to care for PWDs. [19]

See also

References

  1. Reporter, Independent (2020-10-12). "Celebrations as NRM declares winners for special interest group primaries". The Independent Uganda. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
  2. "Who are the new MPs for PWDs?". New Vision. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
  3. "Celebrations as NRM Declares Winners for Special Interest Group Primaries". Uganda Radionetwork. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
  4. "Kanushu Laura - 2021 General Election - Visible Polls". visiblepolls.org. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
  5. 1 2 3 "When society is unfair to people with disabilities". Monitor. 2021-01-05. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
  6. "Laura Kanushu (Responsibility for Programmes)". www.katutandike.org. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
  7. "Legal Action for Persons with Disabilities - LAPD - Legal Aid Service Provider's Network". www.laspnet.org. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
  8. "Laura Kanushu: Open your gates to women with disabilities". Reconstruction Women's Fund. 2019-11-05. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
  9. URN. "Parliament finally passes NSSF bill allowing midterm access". The Observer - Uganda. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
  10. "International Inclusion: voices from the Global Disability Summit". Allfie. 2018-10-15. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
  11. "UWOPA Elects New Executive for the 11th Parliament of Uganda | UWOPA". uwopa.or.ug. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
  12. "When society is unfair to people with disabilities". Monitor. 2021-01-05. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  13. "Committees of Parliament | Parliament of Uganda". www.parliament.go.ug. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  14. "Committee on Rules, Privileges and Discipline – Parliament Watch" . Retrieved 2022-04-05.
  15. "Committee on Gender, Labour and Social Development – Parliament Watch" . Retrieved 2022-04-05.
  16. "Committees of Parliament | Parliament of Uganda". www.parliament.go.ug. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  17. Kansiime, Tracey. "Govt Seeks Shs8bn Grant to Support Families of Children with Severe Disabilities". Nilepost News. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  18. Kanyere, Hakim. "Govt extends GROW project to benefit Jinja women in business". Nilepost News. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  19. Matovu, Muhamadi. "PWDs living with HIV/Aids want better community care, jobs". Nilepost News. Retrieved 2025-12-19.