MTN Uganda joins Autism awareness walk in Kampala, reaffirms commitment to inclusion

MTN Uganda participated in the World Autism Awareness Day commemoration today, joining the Autism Society of Uganda and other stakeholders in a solidarity walk in Kampala aimed at raising awareness and advocating for inclusivity.

The event underscored the importance of policy support, access to specialized services, and increased societal awareness to foster a more inclusive environment for children with autism in Uganda.

Speaking during the event, MTN Uganda Chief Executive Officer and Chief Guest, Sylvia Mulinge, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to fostering social and economic inclusion for individuals with autism.

Mulinge revealed that her journey in understanding autism in Uganda began just two weeks ago when she visited Teens and Tots Neuro Development Centre in Kira Municipality. During this visit, MTN Uganda, through the MTN Changemakers initiative, provided vocational skills equipment including sawing machines, baking, digital devices, and soap-making supplies among others, to empower children with autism and their vulnerable parents. This initiative aligns with the company’s Ambition 2025 Strategy, which prioritizes social and digital inclusion.

“My visit to Teens and Tots was an enlightening experience that emphasized the need for greater investment in autism awareness and support,” she stated.
“Today’s event is therefore not merely about raising awareness—it is a call to action to ensure that every child, regardless of ability, has access to the opportunities necessary to thrive.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that one out of 100 children worldwide suffers from autism. However, in Uganda, the prevalence of autism stands at an estimated 88 people per 10,000, according to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS).

The central region has the highest number of autistic individuals in the country, with 106,749 cases, followed by the Eastern region with 101,334 cases. Northern Uganda has the lowest number, with 80,705 people living with the disorder.

Research suggests that autism awareness in the country is increasing; however, significant challenges remain, particularly in human resources, according to a 2020 study titled Knowledge Gaps about Autism Spectrum Disorders and its Clinical Management among Child and Adolescent Health Care Workers in Uganda.

Many families continue to face difficulties in accessing specialized services, while societal misconceptions about autism persist, according to the Autism Society of Uganda.

“As a society, it is imperative that we recognize neurodiversity as an asset rather than a limitation,” said Dorothy Nambi, the Executive Director of the Autism Society of Uganda.
“Achieving this requires a concerted effort from parents, educators, policymakers, and businesses. We must advocate for inclusive policies, foster supportive learning environments, and embrace a mindset that values the unique capabilities of individuals with autism.”

MTN Uganda’s corporate social responsibility programs prioritize initiatives that advance empowerment and inclusion, as envisioned in its Ambition 2025 Strategy. The company aims to ensure that everyone not only enjoys the benefits of a modern, connected life but also has a meaningful and decent life in today’s world.

Through strategic partnerships and targeted investments, MTN Uganda seeks to ensure that individuals with autism are acknowledged, supported, and provided with opportunities to maximize their potential.

“As we observe World Autism Awareness Day, we urge all stakeholders to translate today’s momentum into sustained action. Advocacy, policy reforms, and community engagement are critical in shaping a more inclusive Uganda. Together, we can cultivate a society in which no one is marginalized—because ‘Together, Our Prosperity is Unstoppable,’” Mulinge added.

World Autism Awareness Day, held annually on April 2, was established following a United Nations General Assembly resolution adopted on December 18, 2007. The resolution encourages United Nations (UN) Member States to implement measures that promote autism awareness on a global scale.

The MTN Uganda Foundation is a not-for-profit legal entity that was inaugurated in July 2007 as a vehicle through which MTN Uganda implements its corporate social investments (CSI). The Foundation strives to improve the quality of life in communities where MTN Uganda operates in a sustainable way. Its purpose is to bring about meaningful, measurable, and sustainable change that helps disadvantaged and rural communities to become self-sufficient. With a focus on innovative technology, we aim to uplift communities towards independence in this bold new digital world. The Foundation invests resources for social redress, thus economic empowerment, education, health, and humanitarian response. The Foundation implements projects that are highly enabled by ICT solutions.

MTN Uganda is a leading telecoms company in Uganda with a primary objective of carrying on the business of a national operator of a telecommunications network pursuant to the National Telecommunications Operator (NTO) licence granted by the Uganda Telecommunications Commission (UCC). Among our offerings are network services, digital and financial technology services, interconnect and roaming, sale of mobile devices, and MTN Mobile Money (conducted through subsidiary MTN Mobile Money Uganda Limited). MTN has a presence in all 134 districts of Uganda. Services are delivered through a network of over 202,000 MoMo agents, 382,000 MoMo merchants, 200 service stores and 13 main distributors. For the full year period ended June 30, 2024, MTN Uganda had 20.7 million subscribers, 12.5 million MoMo users, and 8.8 million active data users.