Wakiso gets free shelter for children with Cerebral palsy

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Parents of special needs children in Sentema village, Wakiso district, have a reason to smile, knowing that their children now have a safe and convenient place where they can spend the day at no cost.

St. John's Sentema children shelter, located at Sentema Church of Uganda Primary School, is open to children with disabilities, especially those with Cerebral Palsy (CP).

Dr Fred Nalugodha from Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) describes CP as a group of permanent neurological disorders that affect movement, posture, and coordination. It is caused by damage in the brain before, during, or shortly after birth.

The shelter was offered by Bridget Nabirye and Emmanuel Okwalo, who have a 10-year-old special needs daughter, Zion Janelle Elizabeth. (Photo by Ritah Mukasa)

Meanwhile, the shelter was offered by Bridget Nabirye and Emmanuel Okwalo, who have a 10-year-old special needs daughter, Zion Janelle  Elizabeth. Nabirye is a human resources manager at Humanity & Inclusion (HI), a French-founded international organisation, while Okwalo works with the National Identification Registration Agency (NIRA).

While launching the shelter on Saturday, December 6, Rev. David Luyombya of Bukasa parish, together with Rev. Sedrach Kamulegeya of St. John's Church, Sentema, thanked the Okwalos for having special needs children at heart. They also thanked Rebecca Nankanja, the head teacher of Sentema C/U Primary School, for offering the special room that houses the shelter.

 “Raising children with disabilities is very challenging,” Nabirye said, adding that they decided to put in place a shelter to thank God for their daughter’s 10 years of life. And the challenges they have faced along the parenting journey have inspired them to look beyond Janelle and reach out to other children and their parents.

Nabirye points out that many parents, especially mothers of children with special needs, are abandoned by their husbands, friends and families. They also brave stigma. And much as they want to work, some cannot find a safe place to leave their children.  With this shelter, she says, parents no longer have to worry about that or even stress over nannies.

On how the couple pulled it off, Nabirye says, they spent sh3million, which they fundraised from workmates, family and friends. They then renovated and furnished the room with a carpet, therapy mattresses, CP chairs and walking aids.

Nabirye also founded ‘Sentema Parents Support Group’ with eight mothers. Two will work at the shelter under the supervision of a special needs teacher recruited by the district.

Rebecca Nankinga the headteacher of Sentema Church of Uganda Primary School with children inside the shelter. (Photo by Ritah Mukasa)

“We are sustaining ourselves. We are not begging, but whoever wants to support us is welcome,” she says. The group has partnered with Brain Spire Volunteers Africa to teach tailoring and baking to youths and parents with children with special needs.

On Nankanja’s part, she said, the shelter will be run as part of the school. Children who can join mainstream classes shall be enrolled.

Samalie Nanvunanwa, the district education officer in charge of special needs and inclusive education, promised to provide a special needs teacher and cautioned parents against hiding their children.

While officiating over the event, Christine Kirungi, the Executive Director for Umbrella Cerebral Palsy Network Association (UCPNA), emphasised the need for children to get the right care on time, saying, “It makes a huge impact on how their lives turn out.”

Dunstan Balaba, the permanent secretary at the Directorate of Ethics and Integrity, highlighted that the government has put in place systems to support persons with special needs.

Meanwhile, data from the 2024 Census by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) indicates that about 1.7 million children (2-17 years) live with disabilities. These are part of the 5.5 million Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Uganda.