The Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs (MODVA), in partnership with the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), has donated essential supplies to Kireka Home for Children with Special Educational Needs as part of activities marking the 2026 African Public Service Day.
The outreach initiative formed part of the ministry’s participation in this year’s African Public Service Day celebrations, held under the theme: “Enhancing Public Sector Institutions and Empowering Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships to Achieve Universal Water Availability and Safe Sanitation by 2063.”
The donation highlighted MODVA’s commitment to community service and supporting vulnerable groups through collaborative partnerships during national commemorative events.
Representing the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Principal Human Resource Officer Steven Sajja said the ministry selected Kireka Home after assessing the institution’s most urgent needs.
He said MODVA, together with the UPDF, mobilised the items to support the school as part of the African Public Service Day activities, describing the gesture as a reflection of the ministry’s continued commitment to serving communities.
Receiving the donation, Kireka Home Headteacher Rebecca Nankwanga appreciated the support, describing it as timely for the institution, which currently cares for 85 children living with different disabilities.
She said the learners have various special educational needs, including autism, Down syndrome, and physical impairments, adding that for some children, the school is their permanent home.
"Thank you for loving our vulnerable children. For some, this is their permanent home. We thank God for people like you and for the defence team for choosing Kireka Home," Nankwanga said.
Speaking on behalf of Kira Municipal Council, School Management Committee member Twaha Mukalazi commended MODVA and the UPDF for dedicating resources and time towards improving the welfare of children at the institution.
Mukalazi appealed to the ministry to engage UPDF leadership on facilitating access for learners at Kireka Home to the UPDF General Referral Hospital, saying specialised medical services at the facility would significantly improve healthcare for children living with disabilities.
He also highlighted the school’s role in equipping learners with practical vocational and handicraft skills, saying the training enables them to become productive members of society despite their challenges.
Kira Municipality Education Officer for Special Needs Harriet Nakirya noted that many learners require specialised care, balanced nutrition, and constant support, while some have been abandoned by their parents.
She said the support from MODVA and the UPDF had addressed some of the institution’s immediate needs and encouraged other government agencies to extend similar assistance.
"We never imagined that MODVA would think about us. You have inspired us to reach out to other ministries for additional support. Whoever directed you to Kireka Home, may God bless you," Nakirya said.
The donated items included mattresses, bedsheets, blankets, cleaning materials, disinfectants, detergents, and assorted food items aimed at improving the welfare and daily care of children at the institution.
Sajja was accompanied by Senior Human Resource Officer Lorna Allen Asima, Moses Tumwijukye, UPDF personnel, and officials from the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs during the donation exercise.
