Purple Bench Initiative Uganda

Purple Bench Initiative Uganda Community Organisation seeking to raise awareness about Epilepsy.

Awareness in schools plays a powerful role in shaping how children understand and respond to epilepsy. When young people...
27/04/2026

Awareness in schools plays a powerful role in shaping how children understand and respond to epilepsy. When young people are given age-appropriate information, they begin to replace fear with empathy, and curiosity with confidence.

By debunking common myths, teaching practical seizure first aid, and creating space for every question, no matter how small or unexpected, we help build safer and more inclusive school environments. Tools like the Suubi Stigma Reduction Toolkit, a story of courage and hope, allow students to connect emotionally with the realities of living with epilepsy, using storytelling to gently challenge stigma and deepen understanding.

The PBI team was at Kyanamukaaka Parents School for a session filled with laughter, honest questions, and meaningful learning. Moments like these remind us that inclusion starts early, and it grows where understanding is nurtured.

Beyond the classroom sessions, our school programs also equip teachers with the knowledge to respond appropriately during seizures, support peer-to-peer advocacy, and integrate epilepsy awareness into everyday school life. Each visit is a step toward schools where every child feels seen, supported, and safe.

education

Stigma is often subtle, yet deeply impactful. It can exist in the unspoken assumptions people make, the social distance ...
31/03/2026

Stigma is often subtle, yet deeply impactful. It can exist in the unspoken assumptions people make, the social distance they create, and the opportunities that quietly disappear. In the context of epilepsy, stigma arises when an individual is no longer seen for who they are, but is instead defined by a condition that is widely misunderstood.

At its core, stigma refers to an attribute, behaviour, or reputation that is socially discrediting. It leads to individuals being mentally classified by others in ways that are undesirable, rejected, or heavily stereotyped. For people living with epilepsy, this can mean being perceived as incapable, unpredictable, or even dangerous, despite the reality of their lived experiences.

These perceptions have real consequences. Children with epilepsy may be excluded from school activities or denied access to education altogether. Adults may face discrimination in employment or be overlooked for opportunities. Many individuals choose silence over disclosure, not out of shame, but out of a need for safety in environments that may not be understanding or supportive.

It is important to recognise that stigma is not inherent to epilepsy itself. Rather, it is a reflection of societal attitudes, misinformation, and fear. As such, it can be challenged and changed through intentional awareness, education, and inclusive practices.
Addressing stigma requires a shift in how we see and engage with people living with epilepsy. It calls for recognising their full humanity, respecting their dignity, and creating spaces where they are not reduced to a diagnosis, but valued for who they are.

Epilepsy stigma doesn’t just live in people’s attitudes, it quietly shapes a child’s entire world.Research shows that ch...
25/03/2026

Epilepsy stigma doesn’t just live in people’s attitudes, it quietly shapes a child’s entire world.

Research shows that children living with epilepsy often face bullying, social exclusion, and restrictions on everyday activities, not because of what they can’t do, but because of what others believe about them.

Over time, this stigma becomes internal. Children begin to feel different, ashamed, or “less than.” Studies link epilepsy-related stigma to low self-esteem, poor quality of life, and even delays in cognitive and academic development.

It also affects their future: Some children hide their condition and fear social interactions out of fear of being judged. In many settings, stigma is a barrier to treatment itself.

The impact goes beyond emotions where global research highlights that stigma contributes to worse mental health outcomes and overall wellbeing, sometimes being more distressing than the seizures themselves.

This is why epilepsy care cannot stop at medication but take into account awareness, inclusion, safe environments where children are allowed to simply be children.

When stigma is reduced, wellbeing improves💜

Epilepsy has many possible causes. It can result from head injuries, brain infections, stroke, tumors, genetic condition...
23/03/2026

Epilepsy has many possible causes. It can result from head injuries, brain infections, stroke, tumors, genetic conditions, or developmental brain differences. Alcohol and drug use can also trigger seizures. In many cases, the cause is unknown.
What matters is this: epilepsy is a medical condition, not something contagious or caused by myths. Understanding this is how we reduce stigma.

peace and good health. May your hearts be filled with gratitude, your homes with happiness, and your lives with endle...
20/03/2026

peace and good health. May your hearts be filled with gratitude, your homes with happiness, and your lives with endless blessings. 💜

Epilepsy is not contagious.You cannot “catch” it from a handshake, a shared meal, a hug, or simply being near someone du...
18/03/2026

Epilepsy is not contagious.

You cannot “catch” it from a handshake, a shared meal, a hug, or simply being near someone during a seizure.
Yet this misconception persists and its impact runs deep.

When people believe epilepsy can spread, they step back instead of stepping in. They avoid sitting close in classrooms, hesitate to offer help during a seizure, and sometimes isolate those living with the condition altogether. What follows is not just misunderstanding, it becomes stigma, loneliness, missed opportunities, and delayed care.

A person with epilepsy doesn’t need distance. They need understanding. They need someone who will stay, who will learn what to do, who will choose compassion over fear. Because the real danger is the silence and separation that misinformation creates.

Let’s replace fear with facts.💜

Today we are talking about Sleep. A reminder that sleep is not a luxury, it is a necessity for brain health. 🧠💜For peopl...
16/03/2026

Today we are talking about Sleep. A reminder that sleep is not a luxury, it is a necessity for brain health. 🧠💜

For people living with Epilepsy, sleep plays an even more critical role. Poor sleep or sleep deprivation can increase the likelihood of seizures, while good sleep habits can help support better seizure control and overall wellbeing.

Yet many people with epilepsy struggle with sleep, whether due to nighttime seizures, medication effects, anxiety about seizures, or disrupted sleep patterns.

So lets pause to recognize the power of sleep:
Rest is part of care.
Supporting people with epilepsy means supporting healthy routines, safe sleep environments, and understanding that good sleep is part of managing the condition.

Tonight, may we all remember that caring for the brain sometimes begins with something as quiet and powerful as sleep.💜

It's Friday and we have come to the end of our grass-root women fighting stigma series. To wrap it up, meet Agnes, a mem...
13/03/2026

It's Friday and we have come to the end of our grass-root women fighting stigma series.
To wrap it up, meet Agnes, a member of the NDRMA-PBI support group and a mother to a child living with epilepsy.

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Meet Patricia, a member of the NDRMA-PBI support group. Patricia is a mother and caregiver to a 15 year old daughter liv...
12/03/2026

Meet Patricia, a member of the NDRMA-PBI support group. Patricia is a mother and caregiver to a 15 year old daughter living with epilepsy.


Meet Ruth, a retired teacher, mother and caregiver to a 25 year old daughter living with epilepsy.
11/03/2026

Meet Ruth, a retired teacher, mother and caregiver to a 25 year old daughter living with epilepsy.



Meet Annet, a member of the NDRMA support group and a mother. A mother and to a son living with .
10/03/2026

Meet Annet, a member of the NDRMA support group and a mother. A mother and to a son living with .


A big part of celebrating Women's Month is applauding the strength and resilience of women in different spaces. Women wh...
09/03/2026

A big part of celebrating Women's Month is applauding the strength and resilience of women in different spaces. Women who continue to give after gaining their own bold voices to fight stigma and discrimination in their communities.

Meet Maria, the Coodinator of the Purple Bench Initiative support group- NDRAMA.



Address

44 Hobart Avenue, P. O. Box 1240, P. O. Box 8310, Kampala
Masaka
256

Opening Hours

Monday 09:00 - 17:00
Tuesday 09:00 - 17:00
Wednesday 09:00 - 17:00
Thursday 09:00 - 17:00

Telephone

+256755655655

Website

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