Members of the Voice of West Nile WhatsApp group have launched an initiative to support the education of five-year-old Geria Cosmos following a Uganda Radio Network (URN) story published on June 1, 2026, highlighting his struggle to access school because of a physical disability. The group had initially sought to raise Shs1.5 million to purchase a wheelchair for Geria, a Top-Class pupil at Amazu Nursery School in Awika Village, Omoo Parish, Arivu Sub-county, Arua District.
However, after Health Heaven, a charity organisation based in Yumbe District, donated a wheelchair to the child, members resolved to redirect the money they had raised towards financing his education. Geria, the youngest of seven children, was born with a physical disability affecting his legs, leaving him unable to stand or walk.
For the past three years, his parents carried him nearly three kilometres to and from school every day along rough roads and across a stream because the family could not afford a wheelchair. Following publication of the URN story, Health Heaven assessed Geria and later donated a wheelchair, significantly improving his mobility.
“I am happy and I now use the wheelchair. It is better because my mother used to carry me to school,” Geria told URN after receiving the wheelchair. With Geria expected to complete Top Class this year, members of the Voice of West Nile WhatsApp group agreed to use the funds already raised to pay his school fees when he joins Primary One next year.
Edema David, who is leading the initiative, said the objective is to ensure Geria completes his primary education without interruption while easing the financial burden on his family. As of Wednesday, July 8, 2026, the group had raised Shs1,083,500 through contributions from its members.
Edema said the group, after consulting Geria’s family, local leaders and the school administration, had resolved to open a bank account at Centenary Bank under the name “Geria’s Education Fund.” Having met Geria’s family and the school administration, we will proceed to open an account for the money raised.
The initiative will continue because we intend to support his education from Primary One through Primary Seven, for a start,” Edema said. During the meeting, it was agreed that Geria would continue studying at Amazu Nursery School, located about three kilometres from his home.
Although government-aided schools are available in the area, they are farther away and difficult to reach because of poor road conditions. School administrators said the school already offers classes from nursery through Primary Three, with additional classes to be introduced gradually, enabling Geria to complete his primary education there.
According to the school’s 2026 admission structure, pupils in Primary One to Primary Three pay Shs75,000 in school fees per term. Lenia Ruth, the Head Caregiver at Amazu Nursery School, welcomed the initiative, saying it would help keep Geria in school despite the family’s financial difficulties.
“Sometimes his school fees accumulate and become a burden to the family, but we cannot send him home. This initiative will help both him and the family,” Ruth said. Geria’s father, Fetia Dan, described the support as a major relief, saying the family had struggled to meet both his educational and basic care needs.
“I am grateful to everyone who has supported Geria. These initiatives have eased the burden on our family so much,” Dan said. His mother, Angujeru Celina, said the wheelchair had transformed Geria’s daily life by making it easier for him to travel between home and school, while the education fund had given the family renewed hope for his future.
Omoo Parish Councilor Afayo Mungu Emmanuel, who accompanied Geria to Yumbe for assessment and later helped collect the wheelchair with transport facilitated by area Member of Parliament Lenia Charity, said the family no longer has to carry the child to school every day.
“The wheelchair has brought relief to the family, and we also welcome the initiative to support his education,” Emmanuel said. To promote accountability, Geria’s family and the leaders of the Voice of West Nile WhatsApp group agreed that Geria’s father will be one of the principal signatories to the Geria Education Fund account.
The group has appealed to members of the public and other well-wishers to continue contributing to the fund, with the long-term goal of supporting Geria throughout his primary education and eventually extending similar assistance to other vulnerable children in the region-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
