We collaborated with Dr. Wendy Parent-Johnson, a specialist in model development, inclusive education, and supported employment, to establish a model for the development of the Twezimbe for Inclusion.

We then collaborated with Wendy on the Outbound Fellowship funded by the U.S. Department of State and overseen by the Institute for Community Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Wendy, who was then the Executive Director of the University of Arizona Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities, along with Sonoran staff conducted an outbound training for disability leaders, entrepreneurs, and small business owners with disabilities and their caregivers in Uganda. The outbound training laid the foundation and infrastructure for development, replication, and sustainability of Twezimbe Project for Inclusion.

We then created the “Journeys to Inclusion” series, helping young advocates learn from best advocacy practices of foremost disability advocates around the world through virtual campaigns. We used the “Journeys to Inclusion” series to better understand. We used the “Journeys to Inclusion” series to better understand effective advocacy strategies and to foster a global dialogue on inclusion and disability rights.

We have now partnered again with the Virginia Commonwealth University Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (VCURRTC) through Wendy, who is currently the Executive Director. In collaboration with Kyambogo University Faculty of Special Needs and Professor Augustus Nuwagaba, an economics professor at Makerere University, we are piloting the Employment-First Policy and Practice course. This course examines the evolution of the Employment-First policy in the U.S. and explores how it could be adapted or adopted to improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities elsewhere, such as in Uganda.

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As someone who had faced countless setbacks in securing employment, I had always harbored the dream of starting my own business. Yet, as a social science graduate, I encountered numerous barriers, particularly in understanding microfinance. I struggled with limited financial literacy and a lack of knowledge about various financial products. This hindered my ability to qualify for loans, potentially depriving me of the opportunity to kick-start my entrepreneurial journey.

Joining the United Persons with Disabilities (UPDS) proved to be a turning point in my life. Through expert-facilitated training sessions, I gained invaluable knowledge in financial literacy including vetting lenders and developing responsible financial habits. Motivated by the valuable lessons I learned and the constant encouragement from my peers, I embarked on my entrepreneurial dream.

Through the launch of the Twezimbe project, which organized us into a cooperative, I secured a microcredit that I utilized to establish my own vegetable garden on an unused piece of family land. Specializing in high-demand crops such as tomatoes and greens, my business not only caters to my personal needs but also paves the way for advancing my studies and supporting my siblings.

Looking back, I am indebted to my comrade, Mr. Harunah Damba, whose unwavering dedication swiftly mobilized us to join the project. His persuasive communication skills, emphasizing the profound benefits of joining UPDS and its pivotal role in our development and empowerment, inspired me to become a member, a decision I will never regret.

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Prior to joining the project, I encountered various challenges in managing my poultry project. Specifically, I struggled with budgeting, expense management, accurately calculating profits and losses, maintaining proper accounting records, and determining the required reinvestment for business expansion.

However, through the Twezimbe project, I have had the opportunity to learn from experts who have equipped me with valuable skills. I have learned how to create a feasible budget, maintain comprehensive farm records, accurately calculate profits and losses, and assess the financial standing of my business. Moreover, being part of a community of like-minded peers has fostered camaraderie and enhanced my social capital.

One of the most memorable moments was when I sold 10 middle-grown hens from the project at a fair price, and I saved 150,000 shillings with the aim of furthering my studies when more funds have been accumulated. It was a fulfilling moment, selling the hens, receiving cash, and saving the money for future endeavors.

Overall, the Twezimbe project has empowered numerous individuals, including myself, by emphasizing the significance of small, smart start-ups as a means to achieve personal sustainable growth and empowerment. As a result, my poultry project is steadily ascending to new heights, thanks to enhanced management practices. I am now filled with hope and determination to expand it into a fully-fledged and sustainable enterprise.

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