Walking Towards Independence in Luweero

Something special is happening in Uganda’s Luweero District. A place once marked by the struggles of the 1980s conflict is now becoming the home of a new beginning—a space where people with disabilities can access the care they need, close to home.

In Uganda, more than six million people live with some form of disability, yet rehabilitation services remain scarce. With only a handful of centres scattered across the country, many families face long and costly journeys, or go without support altogether. In Luweero alone, thousands of people live with physical impairments, but less than 6% have access to the treatment that could change their lives.

This is why SwissABILITY, together with our local partner Nkolo Orthopaedics Rehabilitation Center (NORC), has launched the Walking Towards Independence initiative. Over the next three years, a modern rehabilitation centre will rise in Luweero equipped with a workshop for prosthetics and orthotics, therapy units, and even accommodation for patients and staff who travel from afar.

What makes this centre even more inspiring is its focus on sustainability. It will be powered by solar energy, keeping the lights on during Uganda’s frequent power cuts, and a mobile clinic will take services directly to rural communities where access is nearly impossible today.

When complete, the centre will serve hundreds of people with disabilities every year and impact thousands more through their families and communities. But beyond numbers, this project is about something deeper: dignity, independence, and hope.

As the first bricks are laid, we are reminded that rehabilitation is not just about mobility—it’s about possibility. Together with our partners, supporters, and friends, we are walking towards independence for Luweero, and for Uganda.

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