By Sadique Bamwita
Wakiso
The Director Mukisa Foundation, Dr.Florence Namaganda, has called on Islanders living in Bussi Island , Wakiso district, to change their mindset towards children with disabilities, urging them to champion disability inclusion for the over 450 children with disabilities in their area.
Dr. Namaganda said most Islanders in Bussi Island, have a wrong belief that children with disabilities are possessed with evil spirits from Nalubale water body and as a result some parents tend to keep them indoors.
While addressing the press as Mukisa Foundation celebrated 20 years of disability inclusion, Dr. Florence Namaganda, noted that in Uganda over 3 million people live with disabilities and majority of them can’t access assistive devices , healthcare and other things they need to thrive.
She, however attributes this to poor implementation of government policies regarding the rights of people with disabilities.
Dr. Namaganda revealed that most disabilities in children occur before they’re born or after birth. She added that some are genetic and as a result they’re passed on to the children by their parents.
The Senor Chief Administrative Officer for Bussi Sub- County in Wakiso district, Lawrence Senoga, said the problem of children with disabilities is high in the Islands of Bussi, Zinga and Kavenyanja. He commended Mukisa Foundation for rescuing children with disabilities from parents who hide them in their residences.
The Community Liaison officer for Bussi police station, Francis Wambi, revealed that his office has so far registered two cases of rape against female disabled children. He, however said the culprits were arrested and prosecuted in courts of Laws.
Immelda Nagirinya, who lives with disabilities, said the community tends to disrespect disabled children because of having disabilities. She called on parents to be proud of their children despite having disabilities.
Comedian Kapeere Lufotose whose real name is Yokana Mbuse, said because of his ugly looks, women used to avoid him but when he joined Mukisa Foundation that looked after him and now many yearn for him.
