Removing stigma and providing holistic treatment for children with disabilities

Uganda

Florence's journey began during her time in medical school, where she specialised in physiotherapy. It was there in the rehabilitation department that she first encountered children with disabilities, a moment that left a profound impact. These children, visibly different from their peers, arrived at the hospital very early in the morning and stayed until nightfall, well after their appointments had finished, to travel home. This encounter ignited Florence's curiosity - she wondered why she’d never seen them before.

She embarked on a quest for understanding, driven by a need to comprehend why these children were segregated from mainstream society. Her investigations revealed a troubling reality: many parents believed their children's disabilities were the result of witchcraft, punishment, or wrongdoing. This misconception resulted in children being hidden from the public eye, intensifying their isolation and vulnerability. Florence also learnt at medical school that more than 10% of children in Uganda were born with moderate to severe disabilities.

Florence was determined to change this narrative. She envisioned a sanctuary where children with disabilities and their parents could access medical services without fear or shame. Her goal was to create a supportive environment where children with disabilities could receive the care and opportunities they deserved.

Following her first stint in medical school, Florence had the opportunity to travel to the UK and volunteer for a year with an organisation supporting children with disabilities and their families. As soon as she landed, Florence could see children with disabilities integrated in British society. She could see them on the streets, at the shops, in the cinema. She saw custom-made wheelchairs for the first time and learnt more about the different specialised therapies available to support children’s individual needs.

Physiotherapy for a happy child at one of Florence’s clinics.

Florence returned to Uganda inspired and full of ideas and hope for children living with disabilities. She began providing home-based care for 8 children and, following her first significant donation of 1,000 euro, rented a building to host a drop in centre where parents could bring in their children for treatment and care during the day. Mukisa Foundation was born.

Through Mukisa Foundation, Florence and her team have now supported over 4,000 children living with disabilities and their families. They are working across 9 districts in Uganda addressing health needs through a disability-focussed medical centre and outreach clinics as well as providing education, advocacy and awareness amongst Ugandan families, policy makers and implementers, as well as the general public.

Florence also recognises the need for inclusive education. She co-founded a kindergarten and primary school, the first of their kind in Uganda, that cater to 140 children - both with and without disabilities. This unique initiative aims to break down barriers, change societal mindsets, and create a more inclusive future.

Additionally, Florence founded the Special Children’s Forum, which brings together 60 organisations working in the disability space in Uganda to share learnings and coordinate advocacy initiatives. Their Annual Awareness Day, where Ugandan children with disabilities are showcased as wonderful, capable individuals, has been a source of inspiration and empowerment.

Florence’s future plans for Mukisa Foundation include equipping their medical centre with more specialised staff and machinery so children can have their conditions accurately diagnosed, scaling up their ability to provide assistance devices such as wheelchairs, and establishing a theatre where women in labour can have emergency c-sections to prevent incidences of disability at birth. Following this, Florence would like to replicate Mukisa’s model medical centre to serve communities across the country.

Florence is a beacon of hope for children with disabilities across Uganda. Her story is a testament to the power of one woman's vision and commitment to creating a more inclusive and compassionate society.