This month, we want to draw the spotlight to Kule Festus, a student and passionate advocate for people with disabilities in Kasese, Uganda. He has been attending school and thriving amongst fellow students, but is currently using a non-motorized wheelchair to get around, which can be a challenge. As such, Kule Festus has launched a campaign to acquire a motorized wheelchair.
A fellow student wheelchair user shared their experience of obtaining an electric chair, which inspired him to start the process. He wrote to his hall of residence warden, the Dean of Students, and finally, the Vice Chancellor, who granted his request to fundraise. He has been utilizing time when out of lectures by visiting different lecture rooms and students, and his fellow students are trying their best to make his dream true, but we can also help!
Kule Festus has raised several hundred dollars thus far, and needs another $2,000 Canadian to get the motorized wheelchair. This would help him to be more independent, get around school faster, and continue to contribute and grow in his community.
If you are able to donate, please get in touch with us or visit Canada Helps here: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/canugan-disability-support/
We did it! Our goal was to raise $8,000, and thanks to 40 donors, we actually raised $8,225. We are so appreciative of the support from our donors. These funds will support the purchase of assistive devices (wheelchairs, crutches, white canes, etc.) for people with disabilities in Kasese, Uganda. Our donors have given the gift of mobility!
The following picture is of parents with disabled children from Kasese District.
Our last Annual General Meeting was on April 15, 2024. In 2024, the Board met via Zoom on 5 occasions including the AGM.
Board of Directors
In 2024, the 9-person Board was very active. I want to thank all Board members for their tireless efforts as volunteers in support of CanUgan.
Tim McCarthy resigned from the Board in November 2024.
Sarah Muhwezi resigned from the Board in September 2024.
Ben Scott joined the Board in July 2024.
KADUPEDI
Our partnership with the Kasese District Union of Persons with Disabilities (KADUPEDI) remains strong thanks in large measure to our close working relationship with Baluku Peter. All documentation to support the transfer of funds on a quarterly basis for assistive devices remains thorough and comprehensive.
Great Canadian Giving Challenge, June 2024
This past June, thanks to 37 generous donors, we raised $7,139 in our online fundraising campaign, in support of purchasing assistive devices (wheelchairs, crutches, calipers, white canes, etc.). This is a drop from the Great Canadian Giving Challenge campaign in 2023 which raised $10,041.
Special thanks are in order to CanUgan Board members, who reached out to their networks to support the campaign, and the many donors who are now making regular annual contributions to CanUgan
Holiday Giving Campaign, November and December 2024
The end of 2024 was marked by a successful online fundraising campaign. Thanks to 44 donors, $9,810 was raised to support the purchase of assistive devices for persons with disabilities in the Kasese district in western Uganda. We want to thank all of our donors for their generosity in giving the gift of mobility. Our social media campaign and our outreach to past donors via our newsletters have helped with fundraising, thanks to the lead of Board members Shauna Devlin and Caroline Marshall.
Overall annual fundraising totals from our two online campaigns for the last four years:
In 2021, $18,977 In 2022, $20,005.
In 2023, $18,181. In 2024, $16,949
2024 Trip to Uganda – June 05 to June 12
As a result of the partnership in the Project Echo project with the University of Ottawa Physiotherapy department, a site visit to Kasese Uganda was undertaken by CanUgan board member Rick Morello and University of Ottawa professor Jennifer O’Neil.
The focus of the visit was seeking input from disabled communities in Kasese district related to rehabilitation needs and services as well as the need for assistive devices as provided by CanUgan. The Kasese and District Union of Persons with Disabilities (KADUPEDI), and specifically Baluku Peter and Bwambale Robert, organized 6 community events for our visit with a total attendance of over 375 participants and over 130 lived experience representations. We were grateful for the support provided by Peter, Robert and Janet, who moderated and provided translation for the many voices of persons living with a disability (PWD) that participated in these events.
A summary of recommendations to improve rehabilitation services is on the CanUgan website https://canugan.org/2024-trip-to-uganda-june-05-to-june-12/
SUMMARY OF ASSISTIVE DEVICES DISTRIBUTED
2023 - 2024
| No. | Particulars | Year | |
| 2023 | 2024 | ||
| 1 | Tricycles | 15 | 14 |
| 2 | Corner seat | 0 | 2 |
| 3 | Wheelchairs | 4 | 7 |
| 4 | Crutches | 28 | 31 |
| 5 | White Canes | 20 | 22 |
| 6 | Raised Shoes | 12 | 16 |
| 7 | Surgical Boots | 15 | 15 |
| 8 | Calipers | 6 | 5 |
| Total | 100 | 112 | |
Hearing Aids
As a result in part of Rick Morello reaching out to the StarKey Foundation in the US, which had previously provided hearing aids to persons from Kasese experiencing hearing loss, StarKey launched a mission to provide hearing aids to students in Kasese. Consequently, in 2024 KADUPEDI received 138 Hearing aids and had another 113 hearing aids serviced and repaired.
International Collaboration
CanUgan has been participating in a Prosthetic Limb Collaboration Working Group Meetings consisting of a variety of global NGOs and medical practitioners since May 2024.
The purpose of these meetings is to identify synergies between organizations; discuss and collaborate on potential funding opportunities; build practical connections; and share lessons learned.
One of the main topics of discussion is the importance of providing low cost options to individuals requiring prosthetic limbs in rural communities (in Indonesia and Africa) using a portable pressure casting technique (PCAST).
CanUgan’s participation in these meetings has allowed our organization to foster some strong connections with like-minded organizations and has the potential to bring forth some exciting collaborations in the future.
Support for Kule Festus
The Board of Directors financially supported Kule Festus, who is a young disabled man and seen as a possible future leader with KADUPEDI. Funds were approved to cover some of his university related expenses ($300 on a quarterly basis for cellular expenses and a guide who helps him with his mobility, and a one-time payment of $300 for a laptop computer).
Gratitude
To volunteer Paula Campbell for being our webmaster.
To donors Myrna Fenton and Margaret Nelson who donate to CanUgan on a recurring monthly basis.
Strategic Plan
In the fall of 2022, the Board reviewed the strategic plan put in place in 2021. Future directions include:
Highlighted bullets indicate action taken.
This work has been funded by CIHR Planning and Dissemination Grant, Funding Reference Number/ PCS 191027.
As a result of the partnership in the Project Echo project with the University of Ottawa Physiotherapy department, a site visit to Kasese Uganda was undertaken by CanUgan board member Rick Morello and University of Ottawa professor Jennifer O’Neil.
The focus of the visit was seeking input from disabled communities in Kasese district related to rehabilitation needs and services as well as the need for assistive devices as provided by CanUgan. The Kasese and District Union of Persons with Disabilities (KADUPEDI), and specifically Baluku Peter and Bwambale Robert, organized 6 community events for our visit with a total attendance of over 375 participants and over 130 lived experience representations. We were grateful for the support provided by Peter, Robert and Janet, who moderated and provided translation for the many voices of persons living with a disability (PWD) that participated in these events.
1. Objective 1: Rehabilitation
The goal was to establish rehabilitation priorities that are coherent, collaborative and aligned with the needs of people living with disabilities in Uganda.
Recommended actions for improved rehabilitation services include:
2. Objective 2 : Improve delivery and impact of Assistive Devices
The goals included: Sustain and strengthen CanUgan’s relationship with KADUPEDI and the Intermediary team who identify recipients for assistive devices; develop an understanding of the new and existing problems in the field with a goal of identifying new approaches / ideas to evolve the mission.
Recommended actions for this objective include:
The end of 2024 was marked by a successful online fundraising campaign. Thanks to 44 donors, $9,810 was raised to support the purchase of assistive devices for persons with disabilities in the Kasese district in western Uganda. We want to thank all of our donors for their generosity in giving the gift of mobility.
This past June, thanks to 37 generous donors, we raised $7,139 in our online fundraising campaign, in support of purchasing assistive devices (wheelchairs, crutches, calipers, white canes, etc.) for persons with disabilities in Kasese, Uganda. Thank you, donors, for the gift of mobility.
Our last Annual General Meeting was on January 31, 2023. In 2023, the board met via Zoom on 5 occasions including the AGM.
Board of Directors
In 2023, the 9-person Board has been very active. I want to thank all board members for their tireless efforts as volunteers in support of CanUgan.
Amanda Cox
Caroline Marshall
Rick Morello
Shauna Devlin
Tess Fremont Cote
Tim McCarthy
Erina Buliibwa
Sarah Muhwezi
Jack McCarthy
Board member Sarah Muhwezi joined the board in March 2023.
Erina Buliibwa has resigned from the board in March 2024.
KADUPEDI
Our partnership with the Kasese District Union of Persons with Disabilities (KADUPEDI) remains strong thanks in large measure to our close working relationship with Baluku Peter. Peter is also the Deputy Mayor in Kasese. All documentation to support the transfer of funds on a quarterly basis for assistive devices remains thorough and comprehensive. Our next site visit to Kasese will occur in June 2024 and will be undertaken by board member Rick Morello.
Great Canadian Giving Challenge, June 2023
Thanks to 59 generous donors, we raised $10,041 in our online fundraising campaign, in support of purchasing assistive devices (wheelchairs, crutches, calipers, white canes, etc.) for persons with disabilities in Kasese District. This is a small decrease from last year’s campaign when 66 generous donors in 2022 donated $12,960. Special thanks are in order to CanUgan board members who reached out to their networks to support the campaign and the many donors who are now making regular annual contributions to CanUgan.
Holiday Giving Campaign, November and December 2023
2023 ended on a high note for CanUgan. We concluded our online Holiday Giving Campaign, and thanks to 38 donors, we raised $8,140. This is an increase on last year’s campaign in 2022 when 44 donors donated $7,045 for our Holiday Giving Campaign. Our social media campaign and our outreach to past donors via our newsletters have helped with fundraising, thanks to the lead of board members Shauna Devlin and Caroline Marshall.
Overall annual fundraising totals from our two online campaigns:
In 2023, $18,181 was raised. In 2022, $20,005 was raised. In 2021, $18,977 was raised.
Tele-Rehabilitation; Project Echo
Collaboration on Project Echo continues with our key partners Jennifer O’Neil from the University of Ottawa School of Rehabilitation and the Kasese and District Union of Persons with Disabilities (KADUPEDI). With assistance from a grant from the Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) secured by the University of Ottawa, the objectives of the research project are to:
CanUgan Treasurer Rick Morello will be travelling to Kasese in June 2024 with Jennifer O’Neil to meet with representatives of KADUPEDI to start the community engagement process, which is a key part of the environmental scan.
SUMMARY OF ASSISTIVE DEVICES DISTRIBUTED
2022-2023
| No. | Particulars | Year | |
| 2022 | 2023 | ||
| 1 | Tricycles | 11 | 15 |
| 2 | Tricycles Gear System | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Wheelchairs | 5 | 4 |
| 4 | Crutches | 30 | 28 |
| 5 | White Canes | 21 | 20 |
| 6 | Raised Shoes | 12 | 12 |
| 7 | Surgical Boots | 12 | 15 |
| 8 | Calipers | 9 | 6 |
| Total | 99 | 100 | |
Strategic Plan
In the fall of 2022, the Board reviewed the strategic plan put in place in 2021. Future Directions include:
Highlighted bullets indicate action taken.
CanUgan Board Chair Jack McCarthy was pleased to meet Kasese Uganda resident Farouq Kibaba who is the Executive Director of the Great Lakes Peace Centre: www.greatlakespeace.org.
Farouq was in Ottawa to attend the United Nations Environmental Assembly whose purpose is to develop a legally binding agreement on plastic pollution.
2023 ended on a high note for CanUgan. We concluded our online Holiday Giving Campaign, and thanks to 38 donors, we raised $8,140. We want to thank all of our donors for their generosity in giving the gift of mobility, by providing funding for assistive devices for persons with disabilities in the Kasese District in Uganda.
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