By Joshua Olomo
Kwania, Uganda | Fifty Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Kwania District have received all-terrain manual wheelchairs worth about Sh103 million, in a move expected to improve mobility and access to essential services for some of the district’s most vulnerable residents.
The wheelchairs were donated by OJ Care Mobility Foundation-Soroti with financial support from Chair the Love Organization, a charity based in Florida, USA. The handover took place at Boma Grounds in Kwania District.
Speaking during the ceremony, the Executive Director of OJ Care Mobility Foundation, Julius Opoii, said the organisation had secured funding to procure 260 all-terrain manual wheelchairs for beneficiaries in Kwania and Apac districts.
He urged recipients to put the wheelchairs to good use, saying improved mobility would enable them to access healthcare, education, government services and participate more actively in community life.
Kwania District Senior Development Officer Moses Opio said the district allocates a limited budget to programmes for persons with disabilities, making support from development partners crucial.
He commended the donor organisations for complementing government efforts and applauded Kwania District Woman MP Kenny Auma Lapat and former Kwania North MP Bob Okae for lobbying for the donation. He urged other leaders to emulate the initiative.
Representing the district LCV chairperson, Deputy Speaker of Kwania District Local Government Jacob Edule pledged continued support for persons with disabilities. He encouraged beneficiaries to use the wheelchairs to access government offices and other public services with ease.
Assistant Resident District Commissioner Ceasor Obada called on political and technical leaders to continue lobbying for development interventions that benefit residents regardless of political or religious affiliation.
Joseph Egesa, Strategic Manager for PWDs in the Office of the National MP representing Persons with Disabilities, urged public servants to ensure government programmes are inclusive and accessible to persons with disabilities.
Kenny Auma Lapat and Bob Okae said efforts to secure the donation began in 2024. Although they had requested 100 wheelchairs, only 50 were delivered in the first phase. They, however, expressed optimism after the donor pledged to provide an additional 100 wheelchairs to benefit more people in need.
The beneficiaries, including Betty Auma, a caregiver, Selina Adongo of Akali Sub-county and Kenneth Okonye of Chawente Sub-county, expressed excitement after receiving the all-terrain manual wheelchairs, saying the support would transform their daily lives.
According to the 2024 National Population and Housing Census, about 29,935 people, representing 12 per cent of Kwania District’s population of 216,128, live with some form of disability, underscoring the need for sustained support from government, development partners and well-wishers.