My baby is 20 years old! Mukisa is no longer a dream; she is a thriving young woman. And yes, of course she is a girl, right?!
It has been one of the greatest blessings of my life to watch her grow, from a simple idea planted in the heart of a teenager, to a national organisation supporting thousands of children with disabilities and their families to live lives of hope and dignity.
The dream of Mukisa was born when I was 19 years old, after joining the School of Physiotherapy. For the first time, I encountered children with disabilities up close and listened to the stories of their parents, their pain, resilience, and unwavering love. Those early experiences left a deep and lasting impression on me and went on to shape many of the most important decisions of my life.
True to her name, Mukisa (which means blessing) has been blessed from the very beginning. Mukisa has walked this journey with favour from people of all walks of life, who have generously and faithfully supported her work, ensuring that her doors remain open to the children who need her most. She has also been graced with countless stories of transformation. Children improving, flourishing, and stepping into their God-given potential. Every new child and family that joins the Mukisa family is a living testimony of the love, commitment, and hard work that continues at our centre and across our outreach programs.
I am deeply grateful to everyone who has been part of this journey. From the Board and staff, who work tirelessly each day to ensure that we deliver on our promise to children and families; to the donors, who give generously and believe in this work enough to invest their time, resources, and trust; to our partners, who share their knowledge and stand with us; to the families, who entrust us with the lives of their precious children and most especially my family and friends who have stood by me through the hardest of times.
As Mukisa marks 20 years, my prayer is that her legacy will never end, that she will continue to grow and reach every child who needs these services in Uganda and beyond. I pray that her impact will be felt for generations to come, that the resources to sustain this work will never run dry, and that I may have the privilege of witnessing and being part of this journey for many, many years ahead.