Africa-Press – Uganda. The Mandela Washington Fellowship (MWF) Alumni Network of Uganda has launched a Shs100 million fundraising campaign to improve facilities at the Kampala School for the Physically Handicapped (KSPH), in a tribute to the enduring legacy of South African icon Nelson Mandela.
Dubbed “BUILDING HOPE: One Future at a Time,” the campaign is the flagship event for this year’s Mandela Day celebrations, set to take place on Friday, July 18, 2025, at KSPH in Mengo and the U.S. Ambassador to Uganda William W. Popp is expected to grace the event as guest of honour.
The campaign’s goal is to renovate the school’s deteriorating infrastructure, improve accessibility, and expand learning and rehabilitation opportunities for children with physical disabilities.
“This is an institution rich in impact but strained by decaying facilities, limited mobility-support equipment and inadequate learning materials,” said Don Patrick Bugingo, president of the MWF Alumni Network Uganda. “We are committed to transforming it into a beacon of hope and dignity.”
Among the planned interventions under the newly launched Accessibility Fund are classroom and library renovations, replacement of hazardous asbestos roofing, construction of ramps and walkways, provision of assistive learning devices, repair of the school’s specialized hydrotherapy van, and support for literacy and art therapy programs.
The initiative holds personal significance for Victo Nalule, a 2019 Mandela Washington Fellow and alumna of KSPH. Now Executive Director of the Tunaweza Foundation, Nalule’s story—rising from student to disability rights advocate—serves as a central inspiration for the campaign.
Corporate partners have already begun to commit to the cause. Edward Kwesiga of Mandela Group of Companies pledged to construct all school walkways and renovate the girls’ dormitory.
“We want to ensure all pathways are accessible and smoothly connect the entire school,” Kwesiga said, calling on other companies to follow suit and support inclusive education.
Robin Kibuuka, trustee of CEO Summit Uganda, lauded the effort as a powerful expression of leadership through service.
“Mandela reminds us that true leadership lifts the most vulnerable,” Kibuuka said. “Inclusion is not just charity—it is justice.”
CEO Summit Uganda has committed to amplify the campaign’s visibility through its media and communications networks.
Additional backing is being provided by the U.S. Exchange Alumni Network, whose president Immaculate Owomugisha said their involvement reflects a broader commitment to “community-led development and shared impact.”
“This is what exchange alumni are about—amplifying local solutions to global challenges through collaboration,” she said.
The campaign has also drawn praise from KSPH’s Executive Director, Joy Musiitwa Mwesigwa, who expressed gratitude for what she called a renewed embrace of Uganda’s “disability movement.”
“Disability is a lifelong reality that requires continuous support,” Mwesigwa said. “Inclusive education is a right, not a privilege. Every child—regardless of ability—deserves the chance to thrive.”
She noted that the school’s enrollment fell from nearly 200 students to around 130 following the COVID-19 pandemic, largely due to economic hardship and reduced access to support services. She urged parents and the broader community to advocate for the education of children with disabilities.
Bugingo called for wide public support through monetary donations, in-kind contributions—such as mobility aids, scholastic materials, food items, and rehabilitation tools—and volunteer participation during the Mandela Day activities at KSPH.
“We invite every Ugandan to join us in building hope—one future at a time,” he said.
Jackson Katende Kash, the CEO for Cinat Advertising said as agents of change, they will use their power to make a difference.
“As a company that nurtures brands, this time we are here to nurture people. We are proud to use our creativity and reach to help people make life brighter for the children at Kampala School for the Physically Handicapped,” Katende said.
The #Build4KSPH campaign is supported by a growing coalition of partners, including the U.S. Mission in Uganda, the South African High Commission, CEO Summit Uganda, NBS Television, Crown Beverages (Pepsi), The Nnabagereka Development Foundation, Cinat Advertising, Nelson Mandela Foundation, and Reach A Hand Uganda.
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