Uganda

Sightsavers’ focus in Uganda is to promote social inclusion and tackle neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). In 2017 we distributed 275,000 NTD treatments and helped to carry out 5,000 sight-saving operations.

Sightsavers, originally known as the Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind, started working in Uganda in 1954.

Our first programmes in the country aimed to control river blindness, a debilitating neglected tropical disease, and to provide rehabilitation and support for people whose sight couldn’t be saved.

In 1994, we opened a dedicated office in Kampala, and the following year we began working to help blind and visually impaired children participate fully in mainstream schools. Since 2010, we have focused on improving local health systems, promoting social inclusion and tackling neglected tropical diseases.

Uganda is also home to our award-winning Connecting the Dots project, which has provided vocational training to young people with disabilities so they can find work and support themselves financially. The project has transformed attitudes to disability, and shows potential employers how hiring people with disabilities could benefit their business.

If we are all Ugandans, then we should all be treated equally. That is what I want to see change.

Edith Kagoya, Programme Manager

Edith smiles as she stands holding her young son.

How we’re making a difference in Uganda

Rita sits, making jumpers on her knitting machine.

Challenging stereotypes

“We can change perceptions by telling people that disability is not inability – that disabled people are human.”

Rita Asabo, disability trainer
Read Rita’s story

William Mugayo speaks into the microphone during a radio broadcast.

Raising awareness

“Radio allows people to ask questions, and it spreads awareness among a bigger group of people.”

William Mugayo, district worker
Read the story

Arjuna Socia, 33 yrs stands inside the Kibwoona Health centre in Masindi, Uganda where she attended the Volunteer Distributor Training for Community Directed Distributors (CDD’s) like herself. She is smiling, holding a measuring stick.

Reaching local people

“I wanted to help people because they were dying – I want to save my community and give them medicine.”

Ajuna Socia, local volunteer
Read Ajuna’s story

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After seeing many of his friends and family lose their sight to river blindness, Okello Charles volunteered to become a ‘fly catcher’, helping to eliminate the flies that spread the disease.

A man examines black fly larvae found near the the Agogo river in northern Uganda.

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A panel discussion at the National Disability Dialogue hosted by the Ugandan government.

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Anwar, who has a prosthetic leg, running alongside other people with disabilities.

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Margaret Adome sitting outside her home with three of her six children.

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Journalists from the newspaper visited Uganda to see how the country is tackling this infectious neglected tropical disease, thanks to help from UK Aid.

An elderly woman in Uganda has her eyes examined to check for trachoma.

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People aged over 65 can now have a free eye examination while collecting their pension, and can then be referred for treatment for conditions such as cataracts or blinding trachoma.

A group of smiling children in a classroom in Uganda.

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Six leading organisations have come together under the banner ‘Vision for the Commonwealth’ to ask Commonwealth leaders to bring eye care to all.

Lord Chartres meets beneficiaries of the Trachoma Initiative.

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The Right Rev Richard Chartres visited the Iganga district in the east of the country, where he saw work taking place to eliminate the blinding disease.

We save sight in 30 countries worldwide

Where we work

We work to eliminate avoidable blindness and promote the rights of people with disabilities.

Find out how your support can make a huge difference and change lives.

Uganda

Sightsavers’ focus in Uganda is to promote social inclusion and tackle neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). In 2017 we distributed 275,000 NTD treatments and helped to carry out 5,000 sight-saving operations.

Sightsavers, originally known as the Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind, started working in Uganda in 1954.