BSK Community Run 2026: Running for Inclusion, Hope and a Brighter Future for Deaf Children

On November 21, the British School of Kampala (BSK) community will lace up its running shoes for a cause that goes beyond fitness, competition and crossing the finish line. The eighth edition of the BSK Community Run will bring together learners, parents, teachers and members of the wider community in a shared effort to improve the lives and prospects of children at Mulago School for the Deaf.

Scheduled to begin at 6:30 a.m., the annual event is built around a simple but powerful idea: bringing people together through sport to give back to those who need support. This year, the focus is on creating a safer learning environment, expanding practical skills training and helping deaf children build more independent futures.

At the heart of the initiative is Mulago School for the Deaf, which provides education to deaf learners from nursery through Primary Seven. For the school’s Deputy Headteacher, Prossie Wanyana, the partnership with BSK represents more than financial assistance. It is an opportunity to raise awareness about disability, challenge negative perceptions and remind society that deaf children deserve the same opportunities to learn, grow and thrive as everyone else.

“Disabled but able,” Wanyana says, emphasising the potential of the learners under the school’s care.

One of Mulago School for the Deaf’s immediate priorities is the construction of a perimeter fence to strengthen security and create a safer environment for learners and the wider school community.

However, the school’s needs extend beyond infrastructure. While education equips learners with academic knowledge, the challenges they face outside the classroom can make the transition into adulthood difficult. Negative attitudes towards disability, limited employment opportunities and barriers to further education can restrict their ability to achieve independence.

The Community Run therefore comes at a significant time, offering an opportunity to support the school’s efforts to address these challenges and create an environment in which learners can develop their abilities with greater confidence.

For Wanyana, the ultimate goal is to ensure that children leave school with more than academic knowledge. They should also have practical skills that can help them navigate life beyond the classroom.

One of the school’s ambitions is to strengthen vocational training by introducing and expanding practical skills such as hairdressing and tailoring alongside academic learning.

Wanyana explains that some learners may not have the opportunity to proceed to secondary school, making it important to prepare them for alternative pathways that can support their livelihoods.

By equipping learners with practical skills, the school hopes to improve their chances of earning a living, becoming self-reliant and participating meaningfully in society.

“We believe in making them independent,” she explains.

For Mulago School for the Deaf, independence means giving learners the tools to pursue opportunities, contribute to their communities and build their futures despite the barriers they may encounter.

The support generated through the BSK Community Run is expected to contribute to this vision, helping the school strengthen initiatives that promote learners’ development and open up greater possibilities for their lives after primary education.

While teachers and staff at Mulago School for the Deaf communicate with learners using sign language, the same understanding is not always present in the wider community.

This communication gap can make it difficult for deaf children to express themselves and interact freely with people outside school, reinforcing the isolation that can accompany negative attitudes towards disability.

To address this challenge, the school offers free sign language lessons every Friday, welcoming parents and members of the wider community who want to learn how to communicate with deaf people.

Through these lessons, the school seeks to build a more inclusive society in which deaf learners can communicate comfortably, express their needs and participate fully in their communities.

The initiative also highlights an important aspect of inclusion: creating opportunities for deaf children requires not only supporting them but also helping the people around them understand and communicate with them.

At BSK, the Community Run has grown into an annual tradition that brings the school community together in support of a charitable cause. Beyond the physical challenge, it offers learners an opportunity to appreciate the importance of generosity, social responsibility and collective action.

Secondary School Ambassador Tessa Kassaga, who is part of the school’s prefect body, says the event holds personal significance because she has been part of the BSK community for many years.

With siblings, friends and parents also involved, she hopes this year’s run will attract strong participation and proceed smoothly.

Having grown up with the tradition over almost a decade, Tessa sees the event as an opportunity to unite people around a shared purpose and extend support to those who need it.

She believes the contributions made through the initiative can help beneficiaries access resources and opportunities that might otherwise be difficult to obtain.

“I feel good that people are doing this,” she says, reflecting on the value of giving back and helping others pursue opportunities and activities that many people may take for granted.

Her appeal is for members of the public to turn up, take part and help make the day meaningful for the children who stand to benefit.

As preparations continue, the BSK Community Run presents an opportunity for individuals and families to contribute to a cause whose impact is intended to extend well beyond a single morning.

Members of the public can participate in the run, purchase a T-shirt or support the initiative in other ways, helping advance the work of Mulago School for the Deaf.

Run T-shirts are being sold at Shs 30,000, with participants and supporters encouraged to purchase theirs ahead of the event.

Each contribution forms part of a wider effort to strengthen the school’s capacity to provide a safer learning environment, promote practical skills and prepare deaf learners for greater independence.

The message from the beneficiary school is clear: deafness should not limit a child’s opportunities, and disability should never be mistaken for inability.

For Mulago School for the Deaf, the hope is that the support raised through the Community Run will help turn its ambitions into tangible improvements for learners. For BSK, the event is another opportunity to demonstrate how a united community can use a shared activity to make a lasting difference.

On November 21, the call is for people to show up, run and give back. The distance covered on the day will matter, but the greater achievement will be the opportunities created, the barriers challenged, and the brighter futures made possible for deaf children.

Event details

• Event: BSK Community Run 2026
• Date: November 21
• Time: 6:30 a.m.
• T-shirt price: Shs 30,000
• Beneficiary: Mulago School for the Deaf