Less-abled boy brings light to Namayumba
Namayumba sub-county in Wakiso district had for long lacked educational facilities. It had two primary schools that were miles apart and offered what was only close to education.
By Patience Atuhaire
Namayumba sub-county in Wakiso district had for long lacked educational facilities. It had two primary schools that were miles apart and offered what was only close to education. This situation was Kalyango Kasenene’s inspiration — to change that state for the better, with a vision to offer education to disabled children by putting up a school in the area.
For a man who walks on four limbs, the possibility of building a school for fellow less-abled people remains a dream rather than a reality.
In the last three years, he has changed from a mere less-abled boy who uses his hands to support his legs as he moves. His name now rings in the ears of many residents of Luguzi, Namayumba as a sweet lullaby.
“Mariam Briney, a Canadian woman helped me during my studies. Her kindness instilled in me a passion for education and made me realise that I too could be helpful to other people, especially the less-abled like me,†Kalyango reflects.
Kalyango is brilliant and focused. He set up Mirembe Primary School in 2001 where nine pupils were enrolled. By then the management structure was undefined. Persistence was all he needed to bring the enrolment to more than a hundred pupils with a model management in three years.
Despite his disability, the 23-year-old man has done far better than any able-bodied person in many aspects. The school’s pioneer candidates sat Primary Leaving Examination last year and emerged the best in the whole sub-county.
Having one candidate pass in Grade One was enough encouragement and Kalyango pressed on.
In addition to heading the school, Kalyango is also the councillor for the disabled and the chairman of their association in Namayumba sub-county.
“My other two roles are not routine, which means I can allocate my time accordingly. I want to pave way for myself and other people. Do you think disability with ignorance is fair? That is why I engage in all that I think I can be helpful in. It is a natural talent in me. I like to work and I am always glad when I do my work well,†he says.
His passion for work aside, he has a taste for theatre, magazines and gospel music.
Born to Mr and Mrs. Namuyimba, Kalyango is the fourth in a family of eight children. His disability dates back to the time when he was one-and-half years old.
His mother had gone to the market and when she returned, she found the little boy very sick and paralysed.
It was during the war and, therefore, very difficult to get appropriate treatment. She had to carry the boy from Muwanga in Kiboga district to Mulago Hospital; a journey that took them months. By the time they got to Mulago, it was too late to save the boy and that how he ended up with a permanent disability.
His family later relocated to Wakiso. He completed his primary level of education at Lubugumu Primary School in Ndejje, Makindye division in 1995, then proceeded to Aiden College in Ndejje, then to Namasuba College of Commerce, where he acquired a certificate in accounting.
Currently he is pursuing a Grade Three certificate course in primary education, majoring in English and Mathematics, at Kibuli Primary Teachers College.
With diligence and caution, he has transformed the bushy, off-the-road place into an education institution. There has been more than just building a school.
He has also seen the school transform from its original temporary papyrus reed structures to semi-permanent and permanent structures. He also hopes to get teachers trained in Special Needs Education.
Kalyango is thankful to Hunger Free World (HFW), a non-governmental organisation, for its support.
The school has dropped its old name along with its old look (the reed buildings) and it is now called Yurie Yoshimi Memorial, after an old Japanese woman who gave them aid through HFW.
Strength of will is not Kalyango’s only strong point; he is also blessed with good mobilisation qualities. When he was building the school, all he had to hire was the contractor and the rest of the labourforce was free.
Parents and pupils rallied behind him, fetched water, carried bricks and did any other manual work that was required. Because of this, he managed to put up two classroom blocks and a latrine at only sh42m.
Kalyango still wants to go for further education, to attain a diploma or degree. He has the potential to create an institution that will equip students with both academic knowledge and vocational skills such as tailoring and carpentry. “That gives a student has theoretical and practical knowledge. Whether less-abled or able bodied, one can go out and face the challenges of this world if they are well-equipped.â€
His advice to other less-abled people out there is that they should never give up because they can make it.
Namayumba sub-county in Wakiso district had for long lacked educational facilities. It had two primary schools that were miles apart and offered what was only close to education. This situation was Kalyango Kasenene’s inspiration — to change that state for the better, with a vision to offer education to disabled children by putting up a school in the area.
For a man who walks on four limbs, the possibility of building a school for fellow less-abled people remains a dream rather than a reality.
In the last three years, he has changed from a mere less-abled boy who uses his hands to support his legs as he moves. His name now rings in the ears of many residents of Luguzi, Namayumba as a sweet lullaby.
“Mariam Briney, a Canadian woman helped me during my studies. Her kindness instilled in me a passion for education and made me realise that I too could be helpful to other people, especially the less-abled like me,†Kalyango reflects.
Kalyango is brilliant and focused. He set up Mirembe Primary School in 2001 where nine pupils were enrolled. By then the management structure was undefined. Persistence was all he needed to bring the enrolment to more than a hundred pupils with a model management in three years.
Despite his disability, the 23-year-old man has done far better than any able-bodied person in many aspects. The school’s pioneer candidates sat Primary Leaving Examination last year and emerged the best in the whole sub-county.
Having one candidate pass in Grade One was enough encouragement and Kalyango pressed on.
In addition to heading the school, Kalyango is also the councillor for the disabled and the chairman of their association in Namayumba sub-county.
“My other two roles are not routine, which means I can allocate my time accordingly. I want to pave way for myself and other people. Do you think disability with ignorance is fair? That is why I engage in all that I think I can be helpful in. It is a natural talent in me. I like to work and I am always glad when I do my work well,†he says.
His passion for work aside, he has a taste for theatre, magazines and gospel music.
Born to Mr and Mrs. Namuyimba, Kalyango is the fourth in a family of eight children. His disability dates back to the time when he was one-and-half years old.
His mother had gone to the market and when she returned, she found the little boy very sick and paralysed.
It was during the war and, therefore, very difficult to get appropriate treatment. She had to carry the boy from Muwanga in Kiboga district to Mulago Hospital; a journey that took them months. By the time they got to Mulago, it was too late to save the boy and that how he ended up with a permanent disability.
His family later relocated to Wakiso. He completed his primary level of education at Lubugumu Primary School in Ndejje, Makindye division in 1995, then proceeded to Aiden College in Ndejje, then to Namasuba College of Commerce, where he acquired a certificate in accounting.
Currently he is pursuing a Grade Three certificate course in primary education, majoring in English and Mathematics, at Kibuli Primary Teachers College.
With diligence and caution, he has transformed the bushy, off-the-road place into an education institution. There has been more than just building a school.
He has also seen the school transform from its original temporary papyrus reed structures to semi-permanent and permanent structures. He also hopes to get teachers trained in Special Needs Education.
Kalyango is thankful to Hunger Free World (HFW), a non-governmental organisation, for its support.
The school has dropped its old name along with its old look (the reed buildings) and it is now called Yurie Yoshimi Memorial, after an old Japanese woman who gave them aid through HFW.
Strength of will is not Kalyango’s only strong point; he is also blessed with good mobilisation qualities. When he was building the school, all he had to hire was the contractor and the rest of the labourforce was free.
Parents and pupils rallied behind him, fetched water, carried bricks and did any other manual work that was required. Because of this, he managed to put up two classroom blocks and a latrine at only sh42m.
Kalyango still wants to go for further education, to attain a diploma or degree. He has the potential to create an institution that will equip students with both academic knowledge and vocational skills such as tailoring and carpentry. “That gives a student has theoretical and practical knowledge. Whether less-abled or able bodied, one can go out and face the challenges of this world if they are well-equipped.â€
His advice to other less-abled people out there is that they should never give up because they can make it.