Uganda marks World Autism Day

Apr 03, 2023

World Autism Awareness Day falls on April 2 every year, designated to encourage United Nations member states to take measures to raise awareness about people with autism. 

People attending World Autism Awareness Day (Photos by Nicholas Kajoba)

Nicholas Kajoba
Journalist @New Vision

Uganda joined the rest of the world to mark World Autism Day at Kati Kati Grounds on Sunday where over 100 people participated in activities including an awareness march on Lugogo Bypass and Jinja Road in Kampala. 

The German Ambassador to Uganda, Matthias Schauer was the chief walker during the event where children with autism also presented poems, and songs, as well as participating in dance.   

The event was organised by the Autism Society of Uganda and the National Union of Disabled Persons Uganda (NUDIPU).  

World Autism Awareness Day falls on April 2 every year, designated to encourage United Nations member states to take measures to raise awareness about people with autism. 

NUDIPU executive director, Esther Kyozira, petitioned the Government to ensure that children with special needs are given priority under education and health programmes. 

“Majority of government programmes do not prioritise the needs of children with special needs. Our appeal to the government is to see that these children especially those with autism are given special attention,” she said.  

An instructor helps a child with autism during World Autism Awareness Day

An instructor helps a child with autism during World Autism Awareness Day

Cynthia Kabagambe, a parent with an autistic child, said the celebrations are part of creating awareness and interacting with other people. 

“I brought my 14-year-old son, Jacob Luzinda, who was diagnosed at the age of two with autism, to interact and even make friends with other children with autism,” she said.  

 Children with autism  present a poem

Children with autism present a poem

Kabagambe advised parents with autistic children to always gather and come up with resolutions that would help their children grow up in better environments.  

A 2014 census carried out by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics revealed that the central and eastern regions of the country have the highest number of autism cases. 

Comments

No Comment


(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});