Children with Special Needs enjoy fun day amid calls to break stigma

WAKISO - Saturday morning was marked by both joy and tears as children with various special needs gathered at Angel’s Centre for Children with Special Needs in Wakiso District for a fun day.

It was heartwarming to see parents bringing their children from home to be part of this special occasion.

What touched the guests most was a performance by the children. Although many of them were non-verbal, each child expressed enjoyment in their own unique way - some smiled, others moved their heads, arms, or legs, while a few simply stood during the performance.

Guests sang and danced along with the mothers and caretakers, joining the children on stage in a beautiful display of inclusion and celebration.

Grace Muliisa, the Managing Director of Ecobank Uganda and guest of honour, expressed how humbled she was by the performance, especially considering the challenges faced by the children, their parents, and caretakers.

“Some children are hidden at the back of the house or locked inside - not because they don’t have potential, but because parents lack the support,” Muliisa said.

She emphasised that children with special needs deserve to have fun like any other children, and she applauded the parents who brought their children to the Centre.

Children try using their new tablets during the event. (Credit: Maureen Nakatudde)

Despite such uplifting moments, Rose Mary Nambooze Niwagaba, the Executive Director of the Centre, pointed out that parenting a child with special needs remains heavily stigmatised in many communities. She added that there is still no clear direction on how best to support such children.

Niwagaba, who is also a parent to a child with a disability, shared the emotional toll it takes.

“I walked into the labour ward like any mother expecting a bouncing baby, but it was not so,” she recalled. “My soul was crushed, my world traumatised, and everything in my life seemed to fall apart.”

Now, 14 years later, Niwagaba says her son, Abryl Ebenezer Niwagaba, has become a source of inspiration both in Uganda and abroad.

“Today, 360 children and 365 families in Uganda have been helped because of Abryl’s situation,” she said proudly.

However, challenges remain. Niwagaba noted that parenting a child with special needs is still stigmatised, and parents often struggle to find proper guidance and resources.

“We are still struggling with access to education and rehabilitation. The equipment needed to care for children with special needs is very expensive. It’s not just about wheelchairs - they're only one component to support a child’s overall well-being.”

Winnie Rima, whose five-year-old daughter attends the Centre, shared that parents cannot do it alone.

“With support from centres like this, we gain the courage and strength to care for our children,” she said. “The Centre provides counselling for us and offers the love and care that helps the children improve every day.”

Rose Mary Nambooze Niwagaba, the executive director of the Center speaking at the event. (Credit: Maureen Nakatudde)

One common mistake, Rima pointed out, is when parents discriminate among their own children based on their special needs.

Ken Stober from Simplifi Networks in Bugolobi echoed this sentiment: “Children with special needs should not be treated differently,” he emphasised.

“Parents should give them the best support and opportunities they can, and explore available tools - especially in technology - to help them thrive. They should also seek expert help to unlock the child’s potential.”

To achieve its goals, the Centre partners with government health facilities such as Wakiso Health Centre IV and Mende Health Centre III, particularly in areas of prevention and maternal health.

At the close of the event, Ecobank, together with Simplifi Networks, donated 25 tablets, food, special chairs, and games to the Centre for the children.

Rima was especially thrilled with the tablet donation.

“I couldn’t afford one on my own,” she said. “It will help my child learn better and improve her ability to grip and handle things.”