Welcome to ETC of PWD

Enhancing the Capacity of Persons with Disability (ETC of PWD) is a UK registered charity that supports young people with disabilities in Gulu, Northern Uganda: training and education for a sustainable life of dignity and respect.

Currently, we have a 2025 Funding Appeal and two programmes in operation (for updates go to the Project News tab):

2025 Funding Appeal

In October 2025, we launched an appeal to transform the training facilities at GDPU: Major improvements to two classroom spaces, build a safe girls’ dormitory, refurbish community and Board meeting room, more accessible toilet/washroom facilities and pathways, 15 training place scholarships.

More details about the appeal are here

If you would like to contribute please go to our Donate page or to our crowdfunding appeal

1: VPEP: The VPlus Empowerment Project

Peer Mentor Training under the Vplusplus extension programme

VPEP began in May 2025, a developing programme that started in 2018. Please see the ETC Summary Report 2017 -25 for detail on ETC activities and the Past Programmes tab.

VPEP is delivered by Gulu Disabled Persons Union (GDPU), supported by ETC of PWD trustees and private donations.

Click for VPEP summary

The programme includes:

The Revolving Loan scheme supporting new businesses.

Post training support for all 113 VPlus graduates – plus etc@gdpu beneficiaries and, increasingly, their families too.

The innovative Peer Mentor programme, now working with 12 well trained young people with disabilities across the region.

2: Viva Wer Waa

Viva Wer Waa (Wer Waa means ‘Our Song’ in Luo) is a music based vocational training programme. Sponsored by Viva La Visa – a UK based specialist visa company for the entertainment industry. It is managed by ETC of PWD and delivered by GDPU.

Go to the Viva Wer Waa tab under Current Projects. Or follow updates on Project News

Click for Viva Wer Waa course details:

The Viva Wer Waa course involves:

music making and production in a working studio.

Young trainees with disabilities learn to write, record and perform music and make videos using traditional and western instruments.

The course also includes support; guidance; other skills training and much more.

The studio is now open to the wider disabled community and other local musicians.

In the Viva studio. Abraham, centre, a Viva trainee with two instructors

Viva Documentary

This documentary, made by the Viva team, shows the impact of their programme on the lives of young musicians with disabilities:

Music Videos

Videos made by trainees are posted on the Viva La Visa You Tube channel here.

Viva La Visa have continued to sponsor this programme into its third year and promote the artists in the West. See #vivawerwaa, their Facebook page or their website for more.