Shakul (9) plays at the playground on the beach near his home. Shortly after Shakul was born, his parents decided it would be better if he lived with his grandmother. When he was three years old, grandma learned that he was different from other children. It turned out Shakul was born with a rare genetic condition called Waardenburg Syndrome, affecting pigmentation and hearing.

Given (6) watches her siblings play while sitting near her home in Abim, Uganda. Her parents noticed her disability early on, as she couldn’t sit or crawl like other children. Given is paralyzed in one arm and one leg. Her father, Samuël Otim (40), says: “When I first saw her disability, I thought someone had cast a bad spell on her. I feel sad about it. She can’t go to school because she can’t speak. I can’t always help her, and she can’t do everything on her own. Given needs so much help in daily life, but we receive no support.”

Martin (12) fills a tub with water before washing himself. At age 4, a cyclist hit him, and his leg was so badly broken it had to be amputated. In northern Uganda's Abim district, a government and ngo-program promotes greater acceptance of people with disabilities. Despite being one of the country’s poorest regions, it’s a model of disability inclusion, where people with disabilities are integrated into society.

Christine teaches at Mulago School for the Deaf. As a deaf teacher herself, she understands how crucial it is for students to feel included in society: "All the children want is to know they have a place in the world and the ability to communicate, just like everyone else." Mulago School for the Deaf has about 160 students, most of whom have multiple disabilities. Teophista Babirye, the director, says: “The biggest challenge for the students is the school fees. Only 50 students can afford to pay. Occasionally, we receive funding from the local church.”

Shakul (9, with the phone) plays Snake on his brother's phone while his friends watch. "Even though it's sad that some friends don’t understand me because I'm deaf, I love that they’re always there for me. It makes me happy." After Shakul was born, his parents decided he should live with his grandmother. At three, she discovered Shakul had Waardenburg Syndrome, a rare genetic condition affecting pigmentation and hearing. Namatovu, his grandmother, says: "Shakul makes friends easily, whether they’re deaf or not. He’s loved by his community, and that gives me confidence about his future. He will always have a place in society."

Students of Kampala School for Physically Handicaped return to class after lunch break. Kampala School for Physically Handicapped started in 1969. The founder s had children with Cerebral Palsy. Kampala School for the Physically Handicapped is the only one of its kind in Uganda, combining Education, Rehabilitation and Vocational skill training to children with various disabilities aging from 6 – 21 years. The school has 186 pupils. While 12.5% of the population in Uganda has disabilities, only 5 percent of children with disabilities can access education through Inclusive Schools and 10% through special schools (UNICEF, 2014). For the parents of children with disabilities, especially the blind and deaf who need specialized boarding schools that are not free, the obstacles can be tremendous.

Bayatti and her granddaughter sit behind a small stall where she sells homemade cooking fuel blocks and chapati. Bayatti became disabled after falling ill as a young child, which left her unable to walk. Since the introduction of Uganda’s Disability Act in 2020 — aimed at promoting and protecting the rights of persons with disabilities - visibility has grown. Thanks to this law, and the efforts of advocacy groups, more people with disabilities are now seen in public life, whereas they were once largely hidden from society.

Jessy (6) plays outside with his nephew Roman and other children from the neighborhood at his grandparents' house in Kampala. When Jessy was three years old, he was attacked by a man from the neighborhood, resulting in the loss of his arm. After returning from the hospital, some of his friends were afraid to play with him, thinking he had changed. His father, Godfrey, says: “I talked to his friends about Jessy’s disability and explained that he is still the same child. After that conversation, they understood and started playing with him again.” Godfrey adds: “It’s crucial to raise awareness about disabilities so that children like Jessy are not judged or excluded.”

Husnah Kukundakwe (15) trains in the early hours at the Elite Swim and Gym pool in Kampala, Uganda. Born with a congenital limb impairment, she has no right lower arm. As Uganda’s only classified Paralympic swimmer, Husnah says, “Swimming was my escape from shyness. I used to hide my disability, wearing a sweater all day, even in the heat, just to cover my arm. But swimming helped me find confidence in myself.”

Musa Wandawa (33) collects water from the well next to his house in Jinja, Uganda. When Musa was 10 years old he contracted polio. That left him permanently disabled. Musa is a valued and respected member of the village. Musa: "Over the years, the society around me changed. When I was growing up, children were sometimes afraid of me. I believe, this perception has changed over the years and continues to change. Of course I sometimes get strange comments or looks, but overall people respect and appreciate me."

Rogers (40) moves with the help of his young children, who carry a mattress for him to sit on, near his home in Kampala, Uganda. In 2010, after a night out with friends, Rogers woke up on a railway track, without his limbs. He suspects he became the victim of a violent ritual, as strange stones and coins were found in his pocket. After more than seven months in the hospital, he returned home. Rogers says: "People think I can't do anything because of my disability, but I take care of my children when my wife works. I cook for them, dress them, and help with their homework. I can do almost everything, except chase after them – I don't have legs for that."