KAMPALA, Uganda (UGNEWSLINE) – Mulago School for the Deaf has appealed for government and development partner support to establish a vocational training centre, saying inadequate infrastructure is limiting opportunities for learners to acquire practical skills and prepare for independent living.
The school’s Deputy Headteacher, Prossy Wanyana, said the institution already has sewing machines and cookery equipment donated by well-wishers but lacks sufficient space to install and use the facilities.
She said a multipurpose hall would enable learners to develop practical skills in tailoring, cookery and other vocational activities, opening opportunities for self-employment and economic independence.
“We have all the necessary equipment for vocational skills training, which was donated to us by friends of the disability children’s fraternity, including sewing machines and cookery equipment. However, we lack the space to assemble them for use,” Wanyana said.
She described the learners as bright, hardworking and determined, adding that access to practical training would help them develop their abilities and become self-reliant.
The appeal came as 37 Primary Seven candidates at the school prepared to sit their Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) next week.
The candidates, comprising 23 girls and 14 boys, received encouragement and gifts from the Rotary Club of Centenary Bank Mapeera House during a national PLE candidates’ briefing ceremony held at the school on October 30, 2026.
Club president Maria Ochaloi handed over success cards and assorted gifts, urging the candidates to approach the examinations with confidence, discipline and determination.
She encouraged the learners to believe in their abilities, remain committed to revision and draw strength from their faith as they prepare for the examinations.
Ochaloi also announced plans by the Rotary club to mobilise resources for the construction of a perimeter fence to improve security at the school.
The club is also considering support for improvements to water and sanitation facilities, aimed at creating a healthier learning environment for pupils.
Wanyana welcomed the intervention, saying the gifts and messages of encouragement would help boost the candidates’ morale ahead of the national examinations.
She urged the learners not to allow their hearing impairment to undermine their confidence, stressing that deaf children have the same potential to excel academically and in other areas of life.
She also encouraged them to remain focused on their studies, trust in God and make the most of their talents.
They further called on individuals, organisations and development partners to support the school’s annual School Ball scheduled for December.
The event provides learners with an opportunity to demonstrate their abilities through music, dance, drama, cultural performances, mime, poetry, indoor games and exhibitions of practical skills, including cookery and tailoring.
UNEB deploys 1,544 specialists for candidates with disabilities
Meanwhile, the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has registered 4,655 candidates with special educational needs for this year’s Primary Leaving Examinations.
UNEB Principal Public Relations Officer Jennifer Kalule announced the figures on October 30, 2026, during a press briefing at the Government Media Centre, where the official examination timetable was released.
The registered candidates include 2,352 boys and 2,303 girls.
Kalule said the examinations body had deployed 1,544 special needs education specialists to support candidates with disabilities during the examination period.
The personnel include specialists assigned to assist blind and deaf candidates, as well as transcribers, sign language interpreters and other technical staff trained to address the needs of learners requiring specialised examination support.
The deployment is intended to ensure that candidates with special educational needs can sit the examinations with appropriate assistance and in conditions that accommodate their individual communication and learning requirements.
