In Uganda, most Early Childhood Development (ECD) initiatives overlook the needs of children with disabilities. Wenza Watoto Initiatives Ltd bridges this gap through research-driven, context-specific interventions that combine policy advocacy, disability diagnostics, and innovative service delivery inspired by successful community led, subnational, national and global models. Some of our key focus areas include:
Wenza Watoto Initiatives Limited is a pioneering non-governmental organization (NGO) dedicated to fostering inclusive early childhood development (ECD) in Uganda. Wenza Watoto is a Swahili phrase meaning "Associates of Children," reflecting our deep commitment to supporting and empowering children with disabilities and special needs. Our mission is to ensure that children aged 0–8 with disabilities including, as an integral focus, young children living in refugee settlements receive equitable access to quality education, healthcare, assistive technology, and psychosocial support. Recognizing that early intervention is critical in shaping cognitive, emotional, and physical development, our programs are carefully designed to address the unique challenges faced by children with disabilities and, by extension, those in refugee contexts by bridging persistent gaps in special needs education, inclusive healthcare services, and trauma-informed mental health support. At Wenza Watoto, we adopt a holistic, child-first approach that empowers children with disabilities including, in particular, young children growing up in refugee settlements to thrive in a safe and nurturing environment. Through advocacy, policy research, and direct interventions, we integrate child support, technology-driven learning, parental empowerment, and community-led initiatives each tailored to address the layered needs of disability and displacement to create a more inclusive and supportive Early Childhood Development (ECD) system in Uganda.
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Uganda envisions a future where all its citizens are healthy, skilled, and economically empowered by 2040. Given that 50% of the population is under 16 years and below, significant investment in human capital is necessary. However, children with disabilities (CWDs), estimated at 2.5 million, remain neglected, making them a “lost generation.”
Despite progress in Early Childhood Development (ECD), CWDs face severe barriers in education, healthcare, and social inclusion. The National Policy on Persons with Disabilities (2023) highlights a 12.4% disability prevalence rate among persons aged 2+ years and 14% among children aged 5+ years. The current underinvestment in this category of children has made them struggle with limited access to specialized early learning and assistive devices, materials, inclusive infrastructure, health care, and psychosocial support. Beyond education, CWDs are at higher risk of violence, stigma, and exclusion, with many hidden away due to societal discrimination.
Recognizing these challenges, it is also vital to address the rising needs of young children in refugee settlements, a growing segment of Uganda’s population. According to the National Situation Analysis of Early Childhood Development in Uganda (2024), Uganda currently hosts approximately 1.55 million refugees, with children constituting 56.3% of that population. Refugee children under the age of five account for around 26%, making them a significant demographic that urgently needs inclusion in early childhood programming.
