Warrington inspires first Ugandan Disability Awareness Day

The annual event at Walton Gardens, which has been running since 1992, has inspired campaigners in the east African country to set up their own Disability Awareness Day.

Creators Justine Nakimuli and Connie Kekihembo described disability in Uganda as a ‘taboo’ and a ‘curse’.

Justine, who was born in the country and has lived in the UK for 15 years, said: “In Uganda, disability is like a taboo – there is an increasing number of disabled children being dumped on the street in the dust.

“We wanted to show that disability is not a burden and somebody with a disability can be independent and do things for themselves.”

The first Ugandan Disability Awareness Day will be a four-day event from July 20-24 with the governor of the Bank of Uganda as the chief guest.

Connie, who lives and works in Uganda, added: “Our vision is to create an inclusive society in Uganda that enables disabled people to fit in.

“Disability in our country is a curse and it’s not accepted easily – we want people to understand that anyone can be disabled but can be useful at the same time.

“There are people who have children with disabilities in their family and they don’t know what to do, so it will be a forum for providing information and a platform for those who are looking for jobs so that they know they can be employed and useful in society.”

Justine and Connie visited Warrington Disability Partnership’s Beaufort Street base on Friday to learn more about Disability Awareness Day.

Dave Thompson, the charity’s cofounder and chief executive, said: “I’m humbled and inspired by the work that Connie and Justine do – from something starting as a little acorn in Warrington we’ve managed to influence things happening several thousand miles away across the world.

“It’s absolutely brilliant and we can’t wait to do an exchange visit with some of our young disabled people.”

This year’s Disability Awareness Day takes place at Walton Hall and Gardens on Sunday July 10.