Jacy’s visit followed a successful collaboration with Denis Ouma, head of the training programs at United Persons with Disabilities (UPDS) which led to them winning the Outbound Fellowship as part of the Professional Fellows Program on Inclusive Civic Engagement (PFP). This program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and implemented by the Institute of Community Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, in partnership with Humanities and Inclusion.

Earlier in May 2024, Denis traveled to the United States as a professional fellow and worked closely with Jacy at the University of Arizona Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities. Together, they developed a blueprint for a disability mentorship program for higher education in Uganda. With Jacy’s visit to Uganda, she aimed to gain a deeper understanding of the local context, offer additional technical assistance in developing a mentorship program, and explore potential opportunities for future collaborations with universities in Uganda.

Jacy’s visit was a moment we had only dreamed of, and it arrived on a beautiful November evening—a day we had eagerly awaited.

During her stay in Uganda, Jacy had the opportunity to meet with key stakeholders at Kyambogo University, Makerere University, and key government officials, as well as representatives from organizations such as the National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda. The goal was to uncover the challenges and opportunities in advancing the inclusion of people with disabilities in Uganda’s higher education institutions.

Dr. Paul Emong is one of the key stakeholders working closely with Jacy to assist Denis in developing a disability mentorship program for Ugandan Universities. Dr. Emong is a person with a disability who defied all odds to achieve higher academic qualifications and a respected position in society. He holds a Ph.D. in Human Rights from the University of Leeds, United Kingdom, a Master of Arts in Human Rights from Makerere University, Uganda, a Postgraduate Diploma in Project Planning and Management from the Uganda Management Institute, and a Bachelor of Statistics from Makerere University. Dr. Emong also holds an International Postgraduate Certificate in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights. He leads the Kyambogo University Disability Support Services Centre and has been a lecturer at the institution for nearly 10 years, teaching in the Department of Community and Disability Studies.

Dr. Paul Emong, Denis, and Jacy collaborated to develop a Handbook to guide Disability Mentorship in Higher Education. This handbook sets the standards for mentorship and advancing disability inclusion in higher education in Uganda.

The disability mentorship program has since been launched with a select group of students from Kyambogo University who benefit from personalized mentorship, career guidance, and resource assistance. The program also includes training for mentors, instructors, and disability support specialists to ensure sustainable support for students with disabilities.

“This is my first time to be here in Uganda, and overall in Africa. It’s wonderful to see so many of you, engineers, doctors, teachers, and so many others. I am truly inspired by your passion and drive. I was pleased to hear in yesterday’s meeting, which Dr. Paul invited us to, the rallying cry of the disability rights movement: ‘Nothing about us, without us.’ We really try to make sure that this principle is front and center in all the work we do.” — Jacy Farkas.

The highlight of her visit was a stop at the Ndere Cultural Centre in Kampala, where she got to see an amazing performance of traditional dances. The lively shows, with both men and women dancing, were a colorful celebration of Uganda’s rich culture, filled with passion and emotion that’s been shared through generations. She also enjoyed tasting Uganda’s local cuisine, adding another special experience to her trip.

As she prepared to leave for Entebbe, she sent a message expressing her gratitude: “I send my warmest good wishes to you all. I sincerely thank everyone for the wonderful welcome and am deeply grateful to those who worked hard to make my visit so pleasant and successful. You’re the most gracious host!”— Jacy Farkas.

A complete memoir of Jacy Farkas’ visit to Uganda will be published and posted on this site soon. Stay tuned for an in-depth look at her visit and its impact on our disability advocacy efforts.

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• Intentional Mainstreaming of Disability: We urge the U.S. Embassy to be deliberate in integrating disability considerations into all priority diplomatic areas. Disability rights are human rights, and mainstreaming these considerations is crucial for achieving equity and justice for all.
• Active Participation in Decision-Making: Youths with disabilities deserve a seat at the decision-making table. Their voices and perspectives are essential for shaping policies and initiatives that affect their lives. We call for the inclusion of youths with disabilities in all relevant discussions and decision-making processes.
• Employment Opportunities: Persons with disabilities in Uganda are educated, talented, and capable of contributing significantly to various sectors. We encourage the U.S. Embassy to lead by example by recruiting those qualified and demonstrating the value of inclusive employment practices.
• Access to Grants: Affirmative support for youths with disabilities in accessing grants is a critical move toward equity. Providing these opportunities will enable us to launch focused initiatives, support community development, and foster entrepreneurship, leading to broader societal benefits.

After the event, the U.S. Mission in Uganda tweeted, emphasizing the significance of inclusivity and accessibility in sports, highlighting blind football as an example. The Twitter post read:

“Did you know you can play football even if visually impaired? Today, U.S. Ambassador William W. Popp attended a blind football match @OfficialMubs to celebrate inclusivity in sports! Thanks to the U.S. Exchange Disability Inclusion Alumni Network – Uganda for promoting disability-inclusive development.”

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The Next Generation Leaders (NGL) program, sponsored by the Mastercard Foundation and implemented by the Talloires Network of Engaged Universities at Tufts University, centers on young leaders from diverse global backgrounds. This initiative gathers civically engaged students to explore the university’s purpose and value, emphasizing public deliberation as a structured approach to fostering productive discourse on confronting societal challenges.

These young leaders’ latest development, the For Youth By Youth movement, reflects their aspirations to shape the future. They have taken proactive steps by initiating partnerships with their respective universities, recognizing this as a pivotal initial stride in bringing their shared vision to fruition.

Two Next Generation Leaders, Harunah Damba and Patrovas Okidi from Makerere University in Uganda, had the pleasure of presenting the plaque to their university Vice Chancellor, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe. The plaque, awarded by the Mastercard Foundation in partnership with the Talloires Network of Engaged Universities, recognizes the Vice Chancellor’s contributions to shaping Makerere University as a civically engaged institution. These young leaders used the opportunity to share their visions with the University Vice Chancellor, emphasizing the importance of continued collaboration and innovation in fostering student-led initiatives and community engagement.

Read more about the For Youth By Youth movement here.

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The purpose of the meeting was to share experiences and reflections from their recent participation in the One Young World summit held in Belfast, United Kingdom, from October 2 to 5, and to discuss ways to continue working together. Participants shared their perceptions of UK culture and how it has evolved since their summit participation. Harunah remarked,

“The summit came at a time when our political atmosphere was infused with debates, especially regarding LGBTQI issues in Uganda. Flying in from Uganda, a country under international scrutiny for its stance on LGBTQI matters, I initially thought I would face an unwelcoming atmosphere. Contrary to these assumptions, my time in the UK offered a stark contrast between mainstream media narratives and the actual reality on the ground. This revelation has become a central theme in my role as an ambassador, as I now share with others that the UK is not as depicted in the media but a place of acceptance, understanding, and welcoming.”

Amb. Dr. Karin Boven revealed that the Netherlands has substantial investments in Uganda, with an annual budget of approximately 100 million euros, and expressed her confidence in Uganda as a role model for many others. She stated,

“We have a huge budget of about 100 million euros per year, and this is because Uganda is a long-term friend to the Netherlands. We believe in supporting Uganda because we consider it a role model for many countries.”

The ambassador emphasized the growing significance of climate change, particularly in the present times, and the need for more concerted and inclusive efforts. She expressed hope for arranging discussions or dialogues in The Hague and inviting the OYW ambassadors to participate in such events.

“Climate, as you know, is becoming increasingly important, especially now. We could invite you to The Hague to share insights or debate some of these critical issues. These initiatives are very important because they keep us focused and informed,” Amb. Dr. Karin Boven concluded.

These young stars also had the opportunity to meet Ambassador Katie Airey, the Ambassador of the British High Commission to Uganda, to share their experiences as One Young World ambassadors and to foster a cordial working relationship while seeking support for their grassroots initiatives.

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