PETERPOL Friends of Jesus Disabled Foundation, was founded by Peter Kaboggoza in February of 2012. Influenced by his father’s advocacy for the disabled, Peter began volunteering by accompanying his niece to Ntinda School for the Deaf. Upon completing primary school, the Deaf students had no local options in Uganda at which to continue their education in secondary school. Fortunate students were accepted to join Mumias School for the Deaf in Kenya, which required to leave their families and country to continue their education in Kenya. Peter was inspired to start a local Training Centre for the deaf students, which has expanded to serve students with various disabilities as the program grows. As Peter became more involved with the deaf community, he realized that simply providing a vocational school for students is not sufficient to provide the systemic and cultural changes necessary for individuals with disabilities to thrive in Uganda, so he started outreach programs to provide training to families and communities about disabilities, and to provide government organizations with the necessary knowledge and tools to create policies that empower persons with disabilities. Peter opted to advance his education by attaining an MA in Educational Leadership and Administration with a concentration in Special Education at Boston College (May 2017) and has completed a PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at Wayne State University (December 2022). Armed with this new knowledge, he intends to continue to grow PETERPOL Foundation, both in terms of the number of students served, and services provided.
Currently, the foundation provides education to students with disabilities, as well as educating their families, communities, and government organizations about the value and dignity of those with disabilities. Classes are taught in a privately-owned home where students are learning both life skills and vocational skills. In Uganda, medical care is not always readily available therefore, there is a need for good self-care for persons with disabilities. students are taught hygiene and basic life skills to keep them healthy. By learning these skills, students can make a living, which has a huge impact on how their families and the communities perceive them, as well as how they see themselves. In addition to the education of the students, PETERPOL also provides home visits where they spend time educating the family on the value and the dignity of individuals with disabilities. Additionally, Peter is a Roman Catholic diocesan priest who has served as a Regional Education Secretary for the Catholic Schools in Wakiso District, giving him the opportunity to network with many of the decision makers in the Catholic School system, allowing him to motivate change within that system.