The Mandela Washington Fellowship (MWF) Alumni Network of Uganda has launched a Shs100 million fundraising campaign to support major upgrades at the Kampala School for the Physically Handicapped (KSPH) in Mengo.
The initiative, dubbed “Building Hope: One Future at a Time,” is part of the 2025 Mandela Day celebrations scheduled for Friday, July 18. The U.S. Ambassador to Uganda, William W. Popp, will serve as the guest of honor at the event, which aims to champion inclusive education and amplify the voices of vulnerable children.
Speaking during a press briefing on Tuesday, Don Patrick Bugingo, president of the MWF Alumni Network Uganda, said the funds will go towards renovating classrooms and the school library, replacing asbestos roofing, constructing ramps and accessible walkways, and providing assistive learning devices. The money will also fund repairs to a specialized van used for hydrotherapy and hospital visits, as well as literacy and art therapy programs for students.
“This campaign is about transforming not just a school, but lives,” Bugingo said.
The campaign holds deep personal significance for Victo Nalule, a 2019 Mandela Washington Fellow and alumna of KSPH, whose journey from student to executive director of the Tunaweza Foundation embodies the campaign’s mission.
The private sector has also stepped in. Edward Kwesiga from Mandela Group of Companies pledged to construct all school walkways and renovate the girls’ dormitory.
“We want every child here to move from one facility to another safely and with dignity,” Kwesiga said, urging other businesses to join the effort.
Jackson Katende, CEO of Cinat Advertising, echoed this call, emphasizing that visibility is key to drawing more support.
“Our company is rooted in nurturing, and we are committed to amplifying this message to ensure it reaches those who can help,” he said.
Robin Kibuuka, trustee of CEO Summit Uganda, described the campaign as a powerful tribute to Nelson Mandela’s legacy of service.
“Mandela reminds us that true leadership is about how we serve the most vulnerable. At CEO Summit, we believe inclusion isn’t charity—it’s justice,” Kibuuka said. CEO Summit Uganda has pledged to amplify the campaign through its communication networks.
Immaculate Owomugisha, president of the U.S. Exchange Alumni Network in Uganda, said the initiative reflects a broader commitment by U.S. exchange alumni to inclusive, community-driven development.
“We are proud to stand with the MWF Alumni Network to bring local solutions to global challenges,” she said.
KSPH Executive Director Joy Musiitwa Mwesigwa expressed gratitude for the initiative, noting that the school population fell from 200 to about 130 learners after the COVID-19 pandemic, largely due to economic hardship and limited access to services.
“We thank the MWF Alumni Network and partners for standing with the disability movement and advancing the right to inclusive education,” Mwesigwa said. “Every child, regardless of physical ability, deserves a chance to thrive.”
The Build4KSPH campaign is supported by several partners, including the U.S. Mission in Uganda, South African High Commission, CEO Summit Uganda, NBS Television, Cinat Advertising, Crown Beverages (Pepsi), the Nnabagereka Development Foundation, Nelson Mandela Foundation, and Reach A Hand Uganda.
