At least 11 persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Kitgum municipality are now able to move with greater ease and dignity after receiving brand new wheelchairs donated by Onekalit Denis Amere, the Member of Parliament for Kitgum municipality.
The beneficiaries, drawn from various divisions within the municipality, expressed overwhelming joy and gratitude upon receiving the assistive devices that many said would transform their daily lives.
Speaking during the handover ceremony held at Kitgum Christ the Kitgum playgrounds, Amere reaffirmed his commitment to inclusive development and support for vulnerable groups in the community.
“Mobility is not just a physical need; it is a basic right. These wheelchairs are meant to help restore dignity and ease the burden these individuals have carried for far too long,” said Amere.
“No one should feel left behind simply because of their physical condition. As leaders, we must ensure everyone has an equal opportunity to thrive.”
Many of the recipients have lived for years crawling or relying on relatives to help them move around. For them, the wheelchairs mark the beginning of a new chapter of independence.
80-year-old Aling Margret from Pandwong Division, who has lived with mobility impairment for over two decades, shed tears of joy as she received her wheelchair.
“This is a miracle for me. I’ve waited so long for this day. I thank Hon. Amere for remembering us. Now I can go to church, visit friends, and even go to the clinic without being carried,” she said.
Opio Emmanuel, another beneficiary, echoed similar sentiments. “For 25 years, I have depended on my mother to push me in a broken wheelbarrow. Today, I feel like I have been given a second life. May God bless our MP.”
Local leaders and disability advocates in the area also lauded the initiative, calling on other leaders and stakeholders to emulate the gesture and prioritize the welfare of persons with disabilities (PWDs).
Charles Odera, the Kitgum district LC5 councillor representing people of Pager Division, noted that access to assistive devices remains a major challenge in the region.
“There are still many people living with disabilities who urgently need support. What Hon. Amere has done is commendable and we hope others will join hands to expand this effort,” he said.
The MP pledged to continue lobbying for more support and inclusive programs aimed at improving the livelihoods of vulnerable groups within the municipality, including access to education, healthcare, and income-generating activities for PWDs.
This donation is part of Amere’s broader community empowerment initiative, which also includes youth skilling, support to women groups, and promoting inclusive infrastructure within Kitgum municipality.
For the 11 individuals whose lives have been transformed, this act of kindness is more than a donation; it is a renewed sense of hope and belonging.
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