National Training in Qigong Sensory Therapy for Special Needs Education Inspectors and Teachers The Ministry of Education and Sports, through the Department of Special Needs and Inclusive Education, organized a nationwide training for Special Needs Education Inspectors, Headteachers, and Teachers from special needs and inclusive schools in Qigong Sensory Therapy for Autism. The training sessions were conducted in three regions across the country. The first session took place at Mbale Secondary School from 5th to 9th May 2025, catering to participants from the Eastern and Northern regions. The second session was held at Masindi Public Primary School from 12th to 16th May 2025 for participants from the Western region. A subsequent session was conducted in Iganga District, bringing together additional participants to complete the national coverage. The training was facilitated by a team of Master Trainers from the Oyesigye Special Child Foundation, who guided participants through both the theoretical and practical aspects of Qigong Sensory Therapy. The Oyesigye Special Child Foundation is the pioneer and currently the only organization implementing this therapy in Uganda, with a team of 36 Certified Paediatric Qigong Therapists distributed across the country. With the support of Make Children Better (Belgium), two cohorts of Qigong Therapists were trained, with the most recent cohort completing their training in 2023. The therapy has already shown encouraging results among families who have adopted it, demonstrating its potential to reduce or eliminate autism symptoms. Qigong Sensory Therapy is a research-based intervention with proven efficacy in improving the developmental outcomes of children with autism. During both training sessions, the Commissioner for Special Needs and Inclusive Education, Ms. Sarah Bugoosi, urged participants to take the therapy seriously and apply it diligently. She emphasized that research has shown Qigong Sensory Therapy to be beneficial in helping children with autism integrate better into learning environments. In his remarks, Mr. Robert Stuart Oyesigye, Director of the Oyesigye Special Child Foundation, pledged to continue expanding the training to reach more educators as resources become available. He noted the growing number of children with autism in Uganda and encouraged scientists to intensify research into its causes and prevention. Mr. Oyesigye assured participants that his team would continue offering support to ensure that the 12-Movement Protocol of Qigong Sensory Therapy is followed accurately, as adherence to this protocol is key to achieving positive outcomes. This initiative marks a significant step toward strengthening inclusive education and improving the well-being of children with autism across Uganda.
