Maurice Kirya’s Award-Winning Film Calls East Africa to Move Beyond Down Syndrome Awareness

Ugandan actor, filmmaker and musician Maurice Kirya is using his award-winning documentary A Man Like Sam to challenge perceptions about Down syndrome and call for greater inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities across East Africa.

The documentary, which premiered in Kampala on Thursday, August 27, 2026, tells the story of Samuel Mugabi, a Ugandan man with Down syndrome who is breaking barriers and defying societal expectations.
The Kampala premiere brought together community leaders, healthcare practitioners, families and media partners for an evening centred on Sam’s story and the wider need for disability inclusion across the region.

Kirya, who directed the documentary, has earned multiple international Best Director honours for the film, including at the Hollywood International Indie Film Festival and Cinema Royal Paris.

A Man Like Sam has also received Best Short Documentary at the Alpine International Film Festival in Switzerland and Best International Film at the Brittany International Film Festival in France.

The film received an Honorable Mention at Scotland’s Scarlett International Film Festival, was named a Semi-Finalist at Cannes Indie Shorts in France and received a nomination at the New York Shorts International Film Festival. It is also nominated for the prestigious “I Will Tell” International Film Festival in London, which takes place in September 2026.

But while the film has gained recognition internationally, its message is rooted in the everyday experiences of people with Down syndrome and their families in East Africa.

Lynsay Balumuka, Executive Director of Upasuaji International and Executive Producer of A Man Like Sam, said society must move beyond awareness and work towards creating communities where people with Down syndrome are genuinely included.

“When I look at my child, I don’t see a diagnosis; I see his constant desire to learn, his hilarious sense of humor, and someone who could change the world if the world was brave enough to see through his eyes,” Balumuka said.

She said the hopes of parents raising children with Down syndrome go beyond medical care, with families wanting their children to be seen, supported and given opportunities to thrive.

“I know firsthand the hopes we hold as parents, our desire for our children to be truly seen and given every opportunity to thrive. I also know the fear and the heartache that comes when the world doesn’t see what we see,” she said.
Balumuka said the Down Syndrome Centres of East Africa were established to provide resources for parents and families navigating life with Down syndrome, but stressed that the work must extend beyond the centres.

“My greatest hope is that we build a truly inclusive society together,” she said.
She called on businesses to become inclusive employers and communities to become informed allies, saying the region must move from simply creating awareness to fostering genuine belonging.

“Our Centres are here to help businesses become inclusive employers, to help neighbors become informed allies, and to help our community move past ‘awareness’ toward true belonging,” Balumuka said.
A Man Like Sam forms part of Upasuaji International’s “Advocacy on Screen” initiative, a storytelling campaign aimed at breaking down cultural stigma, correcting medical misconceptions and championing dignity and inclusion for individuals with Down syndrome throughout East Africa.

The documentary tells Sam’s story in his own voice, alongside personal insights from his family, Balumuka and Diana Mutoni, highlighting the role of family devotion, parental advocacy and community opportunity in supporting his journey towards independence.

Balumuka said creating an inclusive society requires collective responsibility.
“Inclusion isn’t a solo journey; it takes every one of us,” she said, calling on parents, professionals, businesses and community members to take part in creating a society where people with disabilities are valued and supported.

“Let’s build a community where no one is left behind, and where every child is valued for exactly who they are,” she added.

Upasuaji International is dedicated to building surgical capacity, coordinating specialised care and long-term health surveillance, while expanding public health infrastructure and advocacy initiatives across East Africa.

Through clinical partnerships and programmes such as “Advocacy on Screen,” the organisation seeks to eliminate barriers to care, combat stigma and build sustainable support systems for patients and their families.