Experience

Six years inside Uganda's national disability movement, years of human rights research and policy work, and a campaign of my own.

Now

Uganda · Current, alongside my studies

Leading the Campaign I founded, with one goal: every blind child in Uganda should grow up able to use a phone and a computer with screen-reading software, and ideally own their own.
Finding used phones and laptops and sending them to disadvantaged blind children who otherwise would not have the chance.
Raised more than €13,000 to provide basic needs for the children of Salama School for the Blind after the dormitory fire of October 2022.
More about the Campaign

Research Policy Officer, Uganda Speaks

Kampala, Uganda · March 2017 – present

Uganda Speaks is a multipurpose organisation that mainly prides itself in its internationally recognised qualitative research works, mainly in the field of human rights and social being.

Qualitative research and policy work in the field of human rights.
Held alongside my NUDIPU role from 2017 to 2020, and carried on remotely while living outside Uganda.

NUDIPU, 2014–2020

Program Officer, National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda (NUDIPU), the national umbrella organisation representing 17 Disabled People's Organisations.

I worked in both NUDIPU's economic empowerment programme and its human rights department. Across more than four major projects, the work I helped coordinate reached more than 2,000 persons with disabilities.

My role

Coordinated national disability inclusion campaigns and stakeholder engagement, in close collaboration with district Disabled People's Organisations.
Coordinated training workshops.
Represented NUDIPU in national and international policy forums.

A young woman in a blue and red floral dress sits in her wheelchair in a small shop, smiling, surrounded by shelves of hair extensions and beauty products.

Economic empowerment projects

Connecting the Dots

2014–2016

Vocational training for 325 youth with disabilities in four rural districts. After the project, 98% of participants were earning an income, up from 41% beforehand.

Context: An EU-funded project led by Sightsavers and implemented with NUDIPU and the Uganda National Association of the Blind.
My role: I contributed to the project, working with district disability organisations on stakeholder engagement and training.
Source: Sightsavers end-of-project evaluation (PDF)

Economic Empowerment and Improving Livelihoods for Youth with Disabilities

2016–2020

Vocational skills, business training and financial literacy for more than 790 youth with disabilities. 30–37% entered waged or self-employment, and 95% joined savings groups.

Context: Two linked Sightsavers projects with NUDIPU, the Uganda National Association of the Blind and the National Union of Women with Disabilities of Uganda, funded by the European Union and the National Lottery Community Fund, in Buliisa, Hoima, Masindi, Kiryandongo and Nwoya districts.
My role: I helped deliver the skills, business and financial literacy training.
Source: Sightsavers joint end-of-project evaluation (PDF)

About twenty women and men sit in a circle outdoors in a village for a savings group meeting, holding blue passbooks around a metal cash box.

Human rights and advocacy projects

Empowerment of Youth with Disabilities in Uganda

2016–2019

Advocacy and leadership training for 796 young persons with disabilities nationwide, strengthening the youth wings of disability organisations and increasing civic participation.

Context: Run by NUDIPU-Youth with support from the Danish Association of Youth with Disabilities.
My role: I supported the project and facilitated advocacy and leadership training.
Source: Participedia case study

Disability-Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction (DiDRR)

Training persons with disabilities and their organisations to take part in disaster preparedness, advocating with government and humanitarian actors, and securing seats for persons with disabilities in disaster-risk forums, in districts including Bududa, Isingiro and Kasese.

Context: Implemented by NUDIPU in partnership with the Norwegian Association of Disabled (NAD).
My role: I contributed to this work within NUDIPU.
Sources: NAD: Disability-inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction in Uganda; NUDIPU project page

Gender and Disability Inclusion in Practice (GADIP)

Bringing gender and disability inclusion into government programmes and community services. NUDIPU continues this work today in a second phase, GADIP II (2024–2028).

Context: A NUDIPU programme; the current phase is supported by the Austrian Development Cooperation.
My role: I contributed to this work within NUDIPU.
Source: NUDIPU project page

Disability Rights in Uganda radio campaign

July–October 2019

80 one-hour radio talk shows in local languages, with more than 176 guests, in which 110,363 listeners answered poll questions on disability rights by SMS.

Context: A six-month public awareness campaign by NUDIPU and TRAC FM.
My role: This campaign ran within NUDIPU during my time there.
Source: NUDIPU and TRAC FM report, Disability Rights in Uganda (PDF)

NUDIPU's work in pictures

A large group of women and men, several holding walking canes, pose together on the grass under a tree in front of a community crafts group sign.

Around thirty-five participants pose for a group photo at an indoor workshop in front of disability-rights banners; one man in the front row holds a white cane.

Community members stand in a hillside banana plantation while a man points out a trench lined with dry banana leaves, used to protect the soil.

Three smiling young people in white T-shirts receive a certificate from a woman in front of banners reading Promoting Inclusive ICT for persons with disabilities.

Other roles

Community Organiser and Advisor

Various NGOs (alongside the NUDIPU role) · 2016–2020

Supported rural disability groups and DPOs through civic education, awareness campaigns and community mobilisation.

Parliamentary Candidate

Uganda · 2021

Advocated for disability rights during the national elections, leading media outreach and public campaigns.

Affiliations and volunteering

Informal advisor to refugees from Ukraine and other countries in Sweden on the social welfare system and access to assistance, with a special focus on people who cannot read or write.
Member, regional disability forums.

References are available on request.