District Public Relations Officers Vow to Improve Website Accessibility for the Visually Impaired

Public Relations Officers (PROs) and Web Managers from all districts across Rwanda have pledged to ensure that district websites and social media platforms become more accessible to persons with visual impairments, recognizing the urgent need for inclusive communication in public service.

The commitment was made during a two-day workshop (October 9–10, 2025) on digital accessibility standards for websites, organized by the Rwanda Union of the Blind (RUB) at the Masaka Resource Centre for the Blind (MRCB) in Kicukiro District. The workshop brought together PROs and web managers from all districts and provinces, alongside RUB members and experts from the Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA).

Speaking during the workshop, Janvier Bacyengana, Public Relations Officer in Ngoma District, said the training had reshaped his understanding of inclusivity in communication.

“From this training, I learned that visually impaired persons are capable; otherwise, we would not have paid attention to them,” he said. “Although I previously felt disinterested in their activities, I now recognize their importance and will make time to engage with them. I plan to visit their cooperatives and create content that showcases their capabilities, something we had not done before.”

Bacyengana emphasized that district digital platforms, including websites, remain largely inaccessible to blind users. He called on RISA to fast-track its ongoing project to improve government websites.

“We are ready to create content that helps them, but our district websites are not yet friendly. I recommend that RISA accelerate its project to make all district websites accessible to visually impaired persons,” he added.

Clarisse Umutoni Uwase, Public Relations Officer in Kayonza District, said the training had revealed gaps in how local authorities communicate.

“I realized that the news we share does not reach everyone, especially persons with visual impairments,” she said. “We must now ensure that our social media and websites are inclusive so that everyone can access development information from their districts.”

Uwase added that while social media platforms like X (Twitter) allow for accessible content through captions or audio descriptions, most district websites require structural redesigns to accommodate accessibility tools such as screen readers.

RUB and RISA Join Forces for Inclusive Digital Platforms

Jacques Mugisha, Executive Director of RUB, said the workshop was part of a broader initiative to promote digital inclusion and ensure that blind and partially sighted Rwandans can easily access public information online.

“Our survey showed that many government websites and systems are not accessible to blind persons,” he said. “We want those managing websites and social media to understand how to create accessible content and why it matters.”

Mugisha revealed that RUB is partnering with RISA, which oversees the development of public digital platforms, to integrate accessibility guidelines into national web standards.

“We are helping RISA to develop and apply accessibility guidelines so that district and ministry websites become fully inclusive,” he noted.

Echoing this, Donatien Uhoraningoga, an IT expert at RISA, explained that the authority has already developed national web accessibility guidelines based on international standards.

“We are now embedding accessibility from the design stage through UI and UX guidelines,” he said. “Our pilot website at the Ministry of ICT already includes screen reader compatibility and navigation tools for persons with visual impairments. Once tested, this model will be replicated across all government websites, including those of districts.”

Ongoing Efforts Toward Digital Inclusion

The workshop follows commitments made during the National Policy Dialogue on Disability and Digital Inclusion held last month, where RUB announced plans to collaborate with at least two districts in each province to enhance website accessibility for blind users.

According to a RUB study released in October 2024, nearly half (48%) of surveyed persons with visual impairments reported not using any assistive technologies, while 52% relied on tools like screen readers. Alarmingly, only 9% could access digital services with minimal difficulty, while 50.1% required assistance.

Affordability also remains a significant barrier. The study found that 68% of respondents considered assistive technologies too expensive, and over 31% were unaware of the costs involved.

As Rwanda pushes toward a fully digital public service, the workshop participants agreed that accessibility must be treated as a right, not a privilege.

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