In Uganda, Salama can move again and is back at school

After living in isolation for several months because of his disability, young Salama returns to school and dreams of becoming a doctor.

Salama is standing in the centre of the image with his two crutches.

Mars 2025, Malumba, village. After living in isolation for several months because of his disability, young Salama returns to school and dreams of becoming a doctor. | © HI

Growing up without going to school, isolated daily

In 2019, Salama and his family fled the Democratic Republic of Congo to escape the violence of the civil war; since then, life has not been easy for them. Today, the 12-year-old boy lives with his mother, Ariet Ndroy, and his four younger siblings in the village of Malumba. The village is part of the Kyangwali refugee settlement in western Uganda, home to around 140,000 people.

Salama has a disability, he has a deformity in his leg which prevented him from attending school for a long time. He says that his mother tried to carry him to school, but it was too difficult for her.

"I used to stay at home a lot, moving around on my hands or on my bottom. It was difficult, especially when it rained! I couldn't leave the house," adds Salama.

A meeting that changes everything

In 2024, everything changed for the young boy. One day, he and his mother were visited by the president of their village, Mr Israel Mugavu, and two members of the HI team. After talking together and examining Salama's legs, the Humanity & Inclusion ( HI) team offered to accompany the mother and her son as part of the INCLUDE III, an EU-funded project. This project aims to support disabled children returning to school.

Thanks to the support of the HI team, Salama's life began to change: HI provided him with crutches and taught him how to use them so that he could move around more easily. The team also visited him regularly to help him with exercises to improve his movement and mobility. Today, Salama is back at school and attending classes at the Karuhinda school. He explains:

"Now I can walk with my crutches. I go to school, play in the playground, go to the market and move around wherever I want. I've even got more friends to play with, and the children appreciate me... My life is much better this way" says the boy with a big smile.

Thanks to HI, the young boy flourishes and his dreams continue to grow: he says he wants to study hard to become a doctor.

Salama was supported by the European Union as part of the ECHO INCLUDE III project, which offers children affected by conflict the opportunity to learn and develop their full potential through inclusive and protective education in emergency situations. This project has supported 50 primary schools and helped 171 children to go to school.

Date published: 23/04/25