Across many districts in Uganda, learners with special needs have long faced a quiet but persistent barrier: the lack of reliable data to identify who they are, where they are, and what support they need. Without this information, even well-intentioned efforts to build inclusive schools can miss the learners who need them most, leaving children at risk of being overlooked, under-supported, or left behind entirely.
HISP Uganda, with support from GPE-KIX, is working to close this gap. Implemented across 10 sites, the initiative is strengthening education data systems to make inclusive, quality education possible, guided by the belief that better data leads to better decisions. When decision-makers have access to timely, reliable information, they can identify learners most at risk and act on that insight rather than rely on guesswork.
Ikolwe Primary School in Mayuge District is one of these implementation sites, and its story shows what that shift can look like in practice. Data helped reveal the need for a dedicated special needs unit at the school. Once established, the unit began changing outcomes for learners who previously had few options for inclusive education nearby.
From data to a classroom decision
Our latest documentary takes you behind the numbers and into the classroom. Hear directly from a district official, teachers, and a coordinator as they explain how data moved from a spreadsheet to a decision—and from that decision to a unit now giving learners a stronger voice, greater confidence, and better access to education.
Watch the full story to see how inclusive education begins with better data.