Kyaninga Child Development Centre (KCDC) was established in 2014 to protect and promote the rights of children with disabilities (CWDS) and their families in Uganda.
By implementing a multisectoral, holistic approach that includes healthcare, rehabilitation, education, and social inclusion, Kyaninga Child Development Centre (KCDC) has revolutionised the care and promoted the rights of Children with Disabilities (CwDs) in Uganda over the past ten years and gained national recognition. An estimated 13% (2.5 million) of children in Uganda have a disability, with limited access to healthcare and rehabilitation, which puts a strain on families financially and widespread stigma makes them reluctant to ask for assistance.
We have just over 100 staff working across our four core program areas. Operating across 1,000 square kilometres in western Uganda, our CBR program supports over 1,000 children monthly. Our team of 30 professional therapists provides rehabilitation services, caregiver training, and community outreach through 27 community health centres.
‘Unlike other NGOs, KCDC is known for their impact by all at the grassroots level despite not looking big and having fancy buildings and cars.’ – Charles Remo Joseph, Speech Therapist
Through Kyaninga Mobility, we address the critical shortage of mobility aids in East Africa by designing, testing, and manufacturing bamboo wheelchairs and other assistive devices. These sustainable, locally made solutions promote mobility and independence for children and adults with disabilities.
In response to our families’ feedback and alarmingly low school attendance rate of just 9% among children with disabilities in Uganda, we launched the Kyaninga Inclusive Education Hub in 2020. The Hub is dedicated to ensuring all children have access to inclusive, equitable, high-quality education. We are supporting the implementation of inclusive education by training teachers and headteachers in 18 regional schools, using our Kyaninga Inclusive Model School (KIMS) as a practical tool and demonstration site for what inclusive, supportive learning can look like for children of all abilities.
Our founders’ personal experience, whose son Sidney was born with severe epilepsy and developmental delay, served as the inspiration for everything that has been achieved so far. After struggling to find any appropriate care in Uganda, they felt compelled to act – not just for Sidney but for families in similar situations, often shunned because of widespread beliefs that disability is contagious or caused by witchcraft, and who were in urgent need of help.
Together with paediatric physiotherapist Fiona Beckerlegge, they founded the Kyaninga Child Development Centre in 2014. To ensure that these children are no longer neglected and can reach their full potential, KCDC’s holistic approach generates solutions at multiple levels.
Children receiving assessment and treatment
of children are seen by 3 or more rehabilitation specialities
bamboo wheelchairs made and delivered each month
under 3 years of age at referral
community and health workers trained
monthly outreach clinics conducted
monthly pop-up classrooms conducted
Businesses opened by Street Business School graduates
increase in family quality of life
schools enrolled in the Teacher Professional Development Programme
teachers trained in engaging and inclusive teacher strategies
increase in enrollment and retention of children with special education needs and disabilities
