Dr. Eria Paul Njuki

Leadership seasons come and go, but gratitude should never.

As the year closes, I’m thankful for the people, partnerships, and purpose that continue to shape the work we do.

Wishing you a peaceful Christmas and a hopeful New Year.

For me, inclusion is not a policy, it’s a calling.

I’m Dr Eria Paul Njuki, Founder & CEO of the Special Needs Quality Assurance and Monitoring Initiative (SQUAMI) and Director of Mukono Integrated Schools (MIS), two platforms built with one conviction: that every child, regardless of ability, deserves a fair chance to learn, grow, and live with dignity.

Over the years, I’ve seen the power of structured compassion, when systems are built around empathy and excellence, transformation follows.

At SQUAMI, we focus on quality assurance, research, and policy advocacy for special needs education across Uganda.

At MIS, we bring that vision to life through inclusive classrooms, vocational empowerment, and individualised learning journeys.

The mission continues: to raise a generation that sees beyond disability and values every ability.

Inclusion for All

From humble beginnings to hope restored.

I was born into a peasant farming family that often struggled to pay school fees. On many occasions, I was told to go home, but I couldn’t. I simply stayed at school, hopeful that tomorrow would bring a solution.

Years later, I trained as Uganda’s first speech & language specialist. I dedicated decades to teaching children with intellectual disabilities and later educating teachers at Kyambogo University.

Dyslexia isn’t just a subject for me, it’s personal. My son, Samuel, faced challenges in reading and writing. Together, we navigated the pain, the misunderstanding, the silence. It was through that journey that I realized the deeper mission, to build systems, not just interventions.

One child diagnosed with dyslexia at our center went on to leap (literally), winning in high jump, becoming the first in his family to fly on a plane, and now working at the national level. That journey is not just his, it is a living testament that potential does not depend on labels.

At MIS & Squami Uganda , we are not just educators, we are caretakers of possibility. We see what others do not, believe what others doubt, and walk with those whose voices have been muted.

If you ever find that hope seems distant, remember: when someone meets you where you are and believes you’re capable, miracles begin quietly. And so, we press on.

Every word from our parents reminds us why we do what we do.

Thank you for trusting MIS with your children’s journey.

Early identification of a child’s learning needs changes everything.

It enables educators and parents to provide timely support before challenges become barriers.

Inclusion begins not in the classroom, but in awareness, in noticing, understanding, and responding early.

At MIS and SQUAMI, we continue to develop systems that integrate early screening and individualised support into every learner’s journey.
Because when we recognise potential early, we unlock possibilities for life.

When you think about your Old School Days, what's one thing you wish had been done differently to make learning more inclusive for all students?

I would love to hear your reflections

Farming remains one of my greatest teachers. The soil reminds me that growth is a process, requiring patience, nurturing, and consistency.
These are the same values I hold when working with children, parents, and staff at MIS & SQUAMI.

According to UNESCO, 1 in 10 children lives with a disability, yet many are excluded from education.

Inclusion is not optional; it’s a RIGHT

An inclusive classroom benefits not only the child with special needs, but every learner.

Every child has the potential to thrive, given the right environment and support.

Disability is not inability; it is diversity in learning.
Every child carries potential awaiting to be identified, assessed, nurtured and promoted.
Our duty as educators is to focus on what the learner can do instead of what he or she can not do and create spaces where he /she can flourish.
A call for a complete mindset change.

At Mukono Integrated Schools (MIS), we live out this belief every day.
Each learner is placed in a program designed to meet their unique needs, so that no child is failed, but every child is guided to succeed.

True inclusion is more than theory; it is practice, and MIS stands as a shining example.

A new week reminds us of the responsibility we carry, to guide, to nurture, and to open doors of opportunity for every child.

As I serve in the space of inclusive education, I remain convinced: no learner should ever be left behind. With compassion and commitment, we can transform classrooms and communities alike.

Here’s to a purposeful week ahead.

Sunday Blessings

As I reflect today, I am reminded that every child, regardless of their ability, deserves the chance to thrive. This is not just my mission, but my prayer: that we build a future where no learner is left behind.

May this new week bring you strength, peace, and opportunities to uplift those around you. Let’s keep working together for an inclusive tomorrow.

— Dr. Eria Paul Njuki