Ecobank Uganda has marked this year's Ecobank Day 2025 with a generous donation of assistive equipment and digital learning tools to Angel's Centre for Children with Special Needs in Wakiso District, reaffirming its commitment to inclusive learning and community upliftment.
The visit to Angel's Centre in Wakiso perfectly aligns with this year's theme, "Enabling Inclusive Learning for All," as the bank directs its efforts toward supporting children with special needs to access functional and inclusive education.
Speaking during the handover, Grace Muliisa, the Managing Director of Ecobank Uganda, said this year's celebration carries a triple significance for the bank.
"As we celebrate Ecobank Day, what makes today very special is that this month we mark 40 years of Ecobank's existence on the continent, 13 years of supporting education through the Ecobank Foundation, and 16 and a half years of serving Ugandans," she said.
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Muliisa revealed that Ecobank employees across 32 African countries were out of their offices, spending the day giving back to communities.
The bank, working with partners Simplifi Networks, media personality Allan Katongole (Oscar) and Victoria Nyanzi, donated 25 digital tablets, CP assistive chairs, food supplies and other essential materials to help children at the centre improve their functionality and learning experience.
"Today, specifically, we chose Angel's Centre because what I have seen here touches my heart as a mother," Muliisa noted.
She hailed the founders of the facility for envisioning and establishing a centre that nurtures these innocent children and gives them a chance to thrive.
"This couple, Mr. and Mrs. Nuwagaba, using their own resources, set up this centre about 13 years ago and have so far supported more than 350 children and their families in Wakiso. As Ecobank, we are here to honour them and the parents who continue to do incredible work."
She called on Ugandans to cultivate a culture of local giving, stressing that foreign aid is drying up.
"As Ugandans, we are a generous nation we give during weddings, funerals, and community emergencies. But this is the time we must step up and give for causes like this because we must build our own local support systems," she appealed.
Angel's Centre for Children with Special Needs was founded in 2012 by Rosemary Nambooze Nuwagaba and her husband after their own child was born with Down syndrome.
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The centre operated both a centre-based and community model, has so far impacted over 160 children and supported more than 150 families in their journey of caring for children with special needs.
"Angel's Centre works for children with intellectual disabilities," said Rosemary Nuwagaba, the Executive Director.
"Right now we have 55 resident children and another 82 supported within the community."
With over 30 staff members, the centre provides therapy, education support, nutrition care and family counselling for children with Down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy and other developmental conditions.
However, Nuwagaba emphasized that running such a facility is extremely costly.
"The cost of raising a child with a disability is high. We need assistive devices, therapy equipment, medication, hygiene materials like pampers and sanitizers, and most importantly, qualified staff. Feeding is also very demanding because our children have digestive complications," she explained.
While families struggle with hospital visits, stigma and emotional strain, Angel's Centre has become a refuge where caregivers also receive psychosocial support.
"One of our key goals is to walk with caregivers because many take long to accept the condition of their children," Nuwagaba added. "What we ask of Ugandans is simple commitment. If each person can reach out to just one child or one family, it can change a life."
She thanked Ecobank for choosing to celebrate Ecobank Day at the centre.
"We are honoured to host one of the most prestigious banking institutions. Their gesture shows that people care, and that gives hope to our children and their caregivers.
