The Manager of the Office of the National Chairman (ONC) and Senior Presidential Advisor, Hadijah Namyalo, marked her son Jagensa Rayan’s fifth birthday on Friday with a charity outreach dedicated to children living with disabilities in Kampala.
The celebration, which coincided in spirit with Buganda Children’s Day, was framed as a gesture of inclusion and shared humanity, as the young boy’s birthday was transformed into a moment of giving rather than receiving.
The outreach took Namyalo first to Kampala School for the Physically Handicapped in Mengo, before proceeding to Support Disabled Children in Ggaba, where she interacted with learners and delivered assorted support items alongside a birthday cake shared with the children.
Namyalo said the initiative was inspired by her son’s personal wish to celebrate his birthday with less privileged children. She noted that Rayan had expressed a desire that others also feel remembered and loved on his special day.
“As he turned five, Rayan expressed a wish to celebrate his day with children who are less privileged, so they too can feel loved and remembered,” she said.
At Kampala School for the Physically Handicapped, school director Joy Mwesigwa described the visit as both rare and uplifting, saying it brought encouragement to learners and staff.
She also welcomed the possibility of continued engagement with the institution to strengthen interaction with the school community.
The outreach continued in Ggaba at Support Disabled Children, where proprietors Betty Nankabirwa and John Muwanga commended the initiative, describing it as timely and impactful for the children under their care.
They also encouraged broader participation from well-wishers in supporting children living with disabilities.
“This gesture has brought hope and joy to the children under our care. We thank Hajjat Namyalo for continuously standing with vulnerable communities,” they said.
The proprietors further appealed to more stakeholders and well-wishers to extend support to underprivileged children, especially those living with disabilities, noting that sustained assistance remains critical to their wellbeing.
Namyalo used the occasion to urge affluent individuals to take a more active role in supporting grassroots initiatives, saying meaningful change requires collective responsibility and compassion.
“I call upon those who are able to reach out and support the less privileged. Real change begins with all of us taking responsibility and showing compassion,” she said.
She also called on government to strengthen interventions targeting children with disabilities through increased resources and more inclusive programming.
The birthday outreach featured donation of assorted items, sharing of a cake, and interactive moments with the children, creating a festive atmosphere that blended celebration with social impact.
Beyond the festivities, the initiative was widely viewed by community leaders in Ggaba as a morale boost for learners with disabilities, reinforcing their sense of belonging and societal value.
As Buganda observed Children’s Day celebrations, Rayan’s birthday outreach stood out as a practical expression of its spirit, turning celebration into service and personal joy into communal support.
At just five years old, Jagensa Rayan’s birthday became a symbolic reminder that acts of kindness, regardless of age, can create meaningful impact in the lives of others.