A Place Where Children with Disabilities Belong
We have an exciting new project for 2026. We are going to build a new school, for children with disabilities. We are partnering with Father John Kyazze, who may of you will know as one of the founder members of HUGS.
The new residential special needs school, named St Giles and St Gonzaga School, will open its doors in January 2028. This school will provide a safe, loving home and education for up to 120 primary-aged children with disabilities—children who would otherwise have little or no access to schooling.
For these children, education is not simply about reading and writing. It is about dignity and independence. Many of the children we will welcome have lost their hearing due to birth injuries, infections such as measles, or treatments for serious illnesses like malaria. Others are blind from birth or have lost their sight due to cataracts. Some live with learning disabilities that have excluded them from traditional schools. Without specialised support, these children would be left behind, forever marginalised—not because they lack potential, but because they lack opportunity.
This new school will change that.
Children will receive tailored teaching, compassionate care, and the encouragement they need to grow in confidence and ability. They will form friendships, discover their talents, and begin to build meaningful futures.
Importantly, this project builds on proven success. HUGS has already established two special needs schools in Uganda, St Francis de Sales and Good Shepherd School. With years of experience, dedicated staff, and a deep understanding of what works, we are confident that this new school will become another centre of excellence.
The name itself carries special meaning. St Giles, long associated with care for people with disabilities, and St Gonzaga, a beloved Ugandan saint, represent compassion, protection, and the belief that every person has value. Together, they symbolise our mission: to ensure that no child is forgotten.
We are in the final stage of fundraising and need to raise £30,000 more to complete the project. Every contribution—large or small—is welcome. If any of our HUGS supporters would like to help us raise money or can identify where we should ask, please contact us. If you are able to contribute, please visit www.helpingugandaschools.org to donate, or contact our chairman Richard at hugs.chair@gmail.com.