Presidential CEO Forum charity run targets special needs learners
Alice Basaaza, the headteacher of Entebbe Children’s Welfare Primary School, said the school currently has about 200 learners with different disabilities, including autism, Down Syndrome, epilepsy, spina bifida, hearing and physical impairments.
(L-R) Fabrice Rulinda, the Entebbe Municipality Mayor, Irene Birungi Mugisha, the head CEO forum and Alice Basaaza, the headteacher Entebbe Welfare School during their visit to the school of children with special needs. (Credit: Julius Luwemba)
The Presidential CEO Forum has launched a charity run to mobilise resources for learners with special needs at Entebbe Children’s Welfare Primary School.
The August 16 run, part of the forum’s corporate social responsibility initiatives, was launched on Friday (August 8) at the Entebbe Municipal Offices.
It is themed 'Saving a Life, Changing a Future'.
The launch set the stage for a nationwide mobilisation drive targeting individuals, corporate organisations, development partners and members of the public.
The organisers aim to raise funds towards the construction of a three-storey building to address the school’s growing need for accommodation, classrooms and additional space for learners to develop skills in art and craft.
Forum chief executive officer Irene Birungi Mugisha said the fundraising effort would extend beyond the August 16 run, with different organisations and individuals expected to contribute to the project.
Officials from the forum visited the school before launching the run at the municipality offices.
Alice Basaaza, the headteacher of Entebbe Children’s Welfare Primary School, said the school currently has about 200 learners with different disabilities, including autism, Down Syndrome, epilepsy, spina bifida, hearing and physical impairments.
She said the number of learners continues to grow because the school does not turn away guardians seeking education and support for children with special needs.
Entebbe Municipal principal education officer Joyce Nalubega said the learners have a range of skills that can be developed when given the appropriate support.
While some excel in art and craft, others demonstrate abilities in music, dance and drama. And others perform strongly academically.
Some of the stakeholders who attended the launch of Presidential CEO run in Entebbe municipality. (Credit: Julius Luwemba)
"With your support coming to Entebbe and working with all of us, we shall be able to reach out to a greater number of learners who are still in the communities, whose parents are yet to bring them to school, and also improve the general well-being of these persons with special needs," said Nalubega.
"In any case, we host the presidential residence. Therefore, this is the right place to host the Presidential CEO Forum," he quipped.
He lauded the forum for choosing to celebrate the platform's five years of existence with a noble gesture of helping children with special needs.
CEO Birungi said the forum views corporate leadership as extending beyond financial performance to include contributing to the communities in which businesses operate.
"We believe that the CEOs do not just stop at having the purpose of making profits or performance of different institutions and enterprises, but we also go all the way to being purposed to add value to the lives that complement this country in one way or another," she said.
The Prime Minister is expected to be the chief runner at the upcoming charity run, alongside officials from the Ministry of Education and Sports.
Several companies have already pledged support, including hotels in Entebbe that will provide meals for participants.
Participants of the 5km run will start at Coco Beach and pass through Kitaasa, Church Road and Kakeeka, before returning to the beach, where they will be hosted for a post-run event.