Rheumanics Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints. The most common types of arthritis in Uganda include, Rheumatoid arthritis, Osteoarthritis, Lupus (SLE), Juvenile Arthritis, among others
Arthritis diseases are marked with fever and pain in muscles and joints that usually results into disfiguring of body parts.

The pain is normally categorized with inflammation in the body that primarily affects the joints, skin and other organs like the heart, kidney, and lungs. This is preceded by a fever that comes with a sore throat.
Arthritis is a world wide phenomenon, which causes disabilities, a challenge in every country that will occur irrespective of family back ground, economic and social status, education etc.

In Uganda not much was known about the condition not until a national conference of people living with disabilities was organized by Uganda National Action on Physical Disability (UNAPD)
For each disability category, a medical expert presented the condition and participants shared their unique experiences and the various needs that ought to be addressed,
Participants agreed that indeed like the theme Physically Disabled people face varying challenges that are inhibiting factors to their development.

A unique disability, hitherto not familiar in Uganda, was arthritis. It was indeed an eye opener and it was found out there are many members of this disability movement that had not been brought on board and did not have any idea about this crippler..
There was considerable awareness regarding the condition and one member shared her experience. The discussion that ensued recognized that there was need to mobilize persons affected by arthritis to try and address their unique challenges.

Members affected by arthritis thought of coming up together to form an Association which was spearheaded by Dr. Ssekasanvu the only specialist at that time in rheumatology and Ms. Mary Mukisa, members indeed got together and formed an association which was named THE ARTHRITIS ASSOCIATION OF UGANDA (TAAU) when patients had gathered to learn more about the disability.

According to International statistics, one out of every 100 people has arthritis. Out of Uganda’s population of about 31 million the known number is 310,000 people who have arthritis but many people are not yet brought on board because of the many challenges the Association is facing i.e. Little awareness, since most people including medical personnel have misconceptions about the signs and symptoms of arthritis diseases.

In an effort to overcome these challenges facing PLWA, The Arthritis Association of Uganda has set up a number of activities to help in overcoming those challenges in partnership with UNAPD a non-government organization