Africa-Press – Uganda. Thousands of people from different sectors took part in the Annual CoRSU Walk 2025 on Sunday at Makerere University Business School (MUBS) to raise awareness about disability and mobilize funds to purchase vital hospital equipment for CoRSU Rehabilitation Hospital.
Held under the theme “Bring Hope to Children with Disabilities,” the event attracted participants from government, private organizations, civil society, and the health sector all united by one cause: to promote inclusion and equal treatment of people with disabilities.
Speaking after the walk, Robert Ochai, the Chief Executive Officer at CoRSU Rehabilitation Hospital, expressed gratitude to the participants and highlighted the significance of the annual event.
“I want to thank you for coming to join us in the 2025 annual CoRSU Walk. It’s a very important activity that we conduct every year and the purpose is to raise awareness, especially about children living with disabilities,” Ochai said.
He explained that the walk is not only about creating awareness but also mobilizing support for essential hospital operations.
“We need resources to provide care and support for these children. We have a long list of partners who have supported us in this walk in kind and with cash and we truly appreciate each one of them,” he added.
This year, CoRSU aims to raise shs400 million to support treatment for children with disabilities and to replace aging hospital equipment.
“We hope the money will help us with the many needs we have, including treatment and buying some equipment that we need to replace in our hospital,” Ochai revealed, calling on the public to continue supporting the cause.
Representing the Katikkiro of Buganda, Noah Kiyimba, the Buganda Kingdom for Cabinet, Lukiiko and Special Duties in the Office of the Katikkiro, commended CoRSU for its continued service to people with disabilities, urging government and communities to increase support for this vulnerable group.
“I joined CoRSU in this run basically to bring awareness. In Uganda, not much attention is paid to children with disabilities. All of us leaders and citizens need to plan for these people,” Kiyimba said.
He emphasized that disability inclusion should be prioritized in both public infrastructure and government budgeting.
“Many public places don’t have toilets or access facilities for people with disabilities. I request the government to create a bigger budget line for them,” he appealed.
Kiyimba further urged government to consider waiving taxes on disability-assistive devices, saying their high cost hinders access for many families.
“Walking gadgets and medical equipment are very expensive. If the government can waive 100% taxes on this equipment, it will go a long way in helping our people,” he noted.
The Chairperson of the National Council of Sports, Ambrose Tashobya, acknowledged CoRSU’s partnership in treating injured athletes and supporting community rehabilitation.
“It was a pleasure to be part of the CoRSU Walk. CoRSU is our partner at the National Council of Sports, helping athletes who sustain injuries,” he said.
He commended the hospital’s affordable services and its broader impact beyond the sports fraternity.
“They don’t only work on athletes but also on children with disabilities. I’ve been humbled to see the impact they have on our population,” Tashobya stated.
Tashobya called for continued collaboration and financial backing to sustain CoRSU’s work. “I want to call upon everyone in this country especially those in positions of responsibility to give support to CoRSU so they can amplify the work they do,” he appealed.
The event also featured a wheelchair race, which brought excitement and further emphasized the theme of inclusion. Among the participants was Mirabo Asiimwe, a person with a disability who used the platform to advocate for equal opportunities.
“They should give us a chance to show that we are able. We are educated and empowered to advocate for ourselves,” Asiimwe said.
She urged schools to end discrimination against learners with disabilities.
“Whenever persons with disabilities go to schools, they are chased away because they’re seen as a burden. Schools should be sensitized to enrol and support them,” she stressed.
“The government should ensure that persons with disabilities can access public schools and study like everyone else. We can also be productive if given a chance,” she added.
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