KAMPALA, UGANDA –  Ugandans have been called upon to support vulnerable people, particularly children with disabilities, as Nelson Mandela International Day was commemorated across the globe.
The appeal was made during an event at the Kampala School for the Physically Handicapped (KSPH) in Mengo, organised by the Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumni Network Uganda. The celebration, attended by representatives from the United States and South African embassies, underscored the principle of Ubuntu and the need for practical action to assist marginalised communities.
South Africa’s chargé d’affaires to Uganda, Ambassador Solly Mbola, highlighted the global significance of Mandela Day, celebrated under the theme “It is still in your hands.”
“It is still in our hands to roll back the frontiers of poverty and inequality,” Ambassador Mbola said. “Mandela believed in lifting others. If you can help, adopt a child. Support them with school fees, scholastic materials, anything.”
His address led to immediate pledges of support for three children at the school. Ambassador Mbola added that the best way to honour Mandela’s legacy was to “give smiles to these kids.”
US Ambassador to Uganda William Popp praised the Mandela Washington Fellowship alumni for their community engagement.
“Hope is not an abstract. It is tangible. It takes shape in classrooms, in the courageous hearts of children, and in the hands of teachers and caregivers,” Ambassador Popp stated, adding that change is “possible when we work together public, private, and civic sectors towards a shared goal: empowering every child, regardless of disability.”
The event marked the culmination of a month-long campaign to raise 100 million Ugandan shillings (approximately $26,000 USD) for an Accessibility Fund aimed at improving the school’s infrastructure and learning materials.
Don Patrick Bugingo, President of the Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumni Network Uganda, confirmed the campaign had exceeded its target. “We are humbled and proud that the fund has exceeded UGX 100 million,” he said, thanking partners like the Mandela Group of Companies for renovations and pledges, including to the girls’ dormitory.
Joy Musiitwa Mwesigwa, Executive Director of KSPH, appealed to Ugandans to recognise the potential in every child beyond their disabilities. She noted that the school had lost about 60 children post-Covid due to financial difficulties.
Jackson Katende Kash, CEO of Cinat Advertising, a campaign partner, described the school’s previous dire state, including accessibility issues for children in wheelchairs and asbestos roofs
