US-based Ugandan powerlifter Roy Mubiru has opened up a home in Gayaza-Manyangwa to support children born with and those suffering from autism.

The home/school located in Kabubbu Zone is supported under the Mubiru Foundation by well-wishers in conjunction with the Lotus Foundation.

Mubiru will donate some of the money he won from the Arnold Classic Sports Festival to the home that currently supports ten children.

Martha Namazzi Kiyingi, an Applied Behaviour Analyst specialist who is a teacher at the Roy Mubiru Foundation Autism school in Gayaza-Manyangwa, sings along some of the autistic children. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

The foundation operates under the mantra: ‘Autism is not a disability but a special ability’.

The foundation’s house was officially launched on Saturday with the foundation’s project manager/coordinator Shamim Batte promising to stand with all the autistic children and help their parents who cannot afford to look after their special needs children.

“We are ready to teach these children because we believe they are like us and despite their shortcomings, they can understand things through actions and also understand what we say,”

“We decided to start this facility with Roy Mubiru because we realised some of these children are kept at Butabika Mental facility which is wrong. People don’t know how to take care of them that is why we want to bridge that gap, because we feel for them,” Batte said.

Mubiru Foundation project manager/coordinator Shamim Batte signs on a poster during the launch of the Roy Mubiru Foundation Autism school in Gayaza-Manyangwa. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

Martha Namazzi Kiyingi an Applied Behaviour Analyst specialist who is a teacher at the school said they are mainly going to tackle the independence of the children and also improve their skill sets so they can run normal lives.

“This is going to be a special place for the autistic children because we are going to skill them in craft-making, and art drawing, and teach them how to use their hands to complete certain tasks,” Namazzi stated.

She said autism is a syndrome and some of the signs and symptoms of autism include children flapping and or shaking their hands.

Martha Namazzi Kiyingi, an Applied Behaviour Analyst specialist who is a teacher at the Roy Mubiru Foundation Autism school in Gayaza-Manyangwa. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

“There are parents with such special needs children and we want to create awareness that such children can still be of value to the country if helped and prepared for games like the Special Olympics,” Mubiru stated.

He said he also has plans to stage sports competitions in Uganda for such children shortly in conjunction with several US-based organizations.

The launch was attended by the LC1 chairman of the area John Kintu, Mubiru’s parents David Ssewakiryanga and Justine Nakabugo, and the foundation’s spokesperson Frank Kahesi.