A Week of Impact
Denny & Caralee's 2025 Visit to FRDC in Uganda
In February 2025, Denny and Caralee Wilford, along with members of the Denny Wilford Foundation, traveled to Lira, Uganda to visit the Freidis Rehabilitation and Disable Centre (FRDC) and meet the children and communities their support has impacted. Over the course of a week, they participated in school visits, home renovations, health outreach, and heartfelt conversations with caregivers, students, and leaders across Alebtong and Lira districts.
About FRDC: Empowering Children with Disabilities
Freidis Rehabilitation and Disable Center
Located in Lira City, FRDC is a registered local NGO dedicated to the rehabilitation, integration, and empowerment of children with disabilities and other vulnerable children in northern Uganda. Their work combines physiotherapy, psychosocial support, and medical care, all grounded in the belief that “Disability is not inability.”
Project Highlights & Community Visits
Day 1–2: Arrival and Community Orientation
Denny and Caralee arrived at Entebbe Airport on February 21 and traveled to Lira, where they were warmly received by the FRDC team. After attending a community wedding and church service, they began their field visits on February 24.
Ajobi Village: Walter's Story and Community Support
In Ajobi, they visited the family of Ocer Walter, a young man who has overcome significant challenges with cerebral palsy thanks to FRDC’s long-term care. After extended rehabilitation, Walter attended school and now dreams of starting a computer center—but needs electricity access to make it a reality. The team also provided supplies to 17 other families in the area, including food, wheelchairs, clothing, and school materials.
Click here to read Walter’s story.
Education Outreach: Akwanilum & Lira Army Primary Schools
On February 25 and 26, Denny and Caralee visited two schools where many beneficiaries are enrolled. At Akwanilum, they were greeted by over 1,200 students and staff. They awarded supplies to top-performing pupils and learned of urgent school needs, including desks and cement flooring. At Lira Army Primary School, they addressed stigma faced by disabled students and emphasized the importance of education for all. Each school received sports equipment and gifts for high achievers.
Home Visits: Stories of Hope and Resilience
Pamela Akuny now has a safer living space after FRDC plastered her kitchen and walkways. Her caregivers requested further support to convert her room into a self-contained unit.
Aguti Margarita’s family, including her two daughters living with sickle cell, received school fees, soap, clothing, and mobility aids.
Amos Okello, once severely disabled, has made strides thanks to six months of inpatient care at FRDC. His family expressed profound gratitude for the ongoing support.
Olakotato Village community members shared testimonies of restored dignity and livelihoods thanks to ongoing outreach by FRDC’s Catherine Jogole.
Polio Vaccination at Ayago Health Centre
At Ayago Health Centre III, Denny led a polio education session for local mothers and personally administered vaccines to children, including a young boy named Eless Soldrick. His message of consistent health care access was well received, with families showing strong commitment to ongoing vaccinations.
Rotary Club Engagement
At a Rotary Club meeting in Lira, Denny shared his story—how his work in polio eradication led to his connection with FRDC in 2007 while in Ethiopia. Club members welcomed the foundation’s involvement, emphasizing collaboration between service leaders.
LIDUPED Visit: Partnering for Access
At the Lira District Union of Persons with Disability (LIDUPED), the team heard how mobility equipment supplied through FRDC had changed lives. LIDUPED leaders thanked Denny and Caralee for investing in dignity and access.
A Gathering of Gratitude
On February 27, FRDC hosted a gathering of 58 beneficiaries, caretakers, religious leaders, and local council members. The group reflected on the many challenges families face—poverty, isolation, and lack of access—and the critical role support from the foundation plays in restoring hope. Bishop James of Truth Fountain Church shared that Denny and Caralee’s presence was a “healing and deliverance,” calling their journey to Uganda an act of divine love.
Looking Ahead: A New Diagnostic Clinic?
In their final meeting, Denny and Caralee sat down with Dr. Gerald Obai to discuss a potential diagnostic clinic at FRDC. With rising cases of kidney failure, hepatitis B, and maternal complications, the need for localized diagnostic services is urgent. FRDC has the space, infrastructure, and drive to take this next step in serving the community.
Final Reflections
“We came with heavy hearts—not just to give, but to be present. What we saw, heard, and experienced will stay with us forever.”
This visit confirmed what FRDC has long believed: when children with disabilities receive care, education, and dignity, they can flourish. The foundation’s presence was more than charity—it was community, solidarity, and faith in action.
