What would my life have been without education?

1. What would my life have been without education? Presented byAkampurira EmmanuelNUDIPU Youth, Uganda A dignified Society for all NUDIPU Plot 530, Kisasi Road-Bukoto, POBOX 8567, Kampala -Uganda

2. Earelylife • Kabale Landscapes Background A dignified Society for all Born in Kabale district, south -western Uganda, Kigezi region as you can see a map on your right side (those who are able to see). I am the second last born in the family of six (6) children (3boys and 3girls). I was not born with disability until I was attacked by osteomylits (a bacterial infection that destroys bones) which then literally ate my bones of both sides of the hips. This happened when I was in primary three at Kirwa government inclusive school, . I was out of school for a period of two years because I was in Mulago National Referral hospital for medical care where an angle plate(a nail like artificial bone) was fixed with in my right hip joint which I live with to date NUDIPU Plot 530, Kisasi Road-Bukoto, POBOX 8567, Kampala -Uganda

3. Way of life in Kigezi A dignified Society for all As you see the map(those who are able to see), I grew up in the mountainous region, one of the hard to reach area where human labor is the only option available for farming because this is the major economic activity It was impossible for me to use a wheel chair because of the poor land terrine of Kigezi yet my family was poor to buy me elbow crutches but instead gave me a wooden stick to walk. I bought the first set of elbow crutches when I joined Makerere University using my students allowance because I was sponsored by government. Thanks to education In Kabale, when youth with disabilities drop out of school, they can only work as home keepers, take care of young ones, hidden away from the public scene, denied basic needs of life as they are seen as objects of pity. NUDIPU Plot 530, Kisasi Road-Bukoto, POBOX 8567, Kampala -Uganda

4. The walking stick that propelled me from primary to University Moments of exclusion in school A dignified Society for all This is the experience of exclusion I went through. I lost hope and felt out of place in my family because I could only witness other children live and return home from school. That is where the idea of making a stick came from because I could complain all the time Abuses and stigma When I went back to school, I lost my name Emmanuel to “Kamuga” Which translates a small person with disability, it hurt me but with little to do. I regained my name while in advanced level of education At Kirwa primary school, walk ways to class rooms had steps with no ramps, I would literally crawl to and from class rooms I could not be allowed to participate in music, dance and drama competitions because the organizers would say I was not presentable on stage At Rukore High school, some times students used to hide away my walking stick until I cried or humbly appealed to get it back At Kabale Trinity college, we were very many students with small class room and students would rush to book space and I miss out NUDIPU Plot 530, Kisasi Road-Bukoto, POBOX 8567, Kampala -Uganda

5. Moments of exclusion in school cont’d A dignified Society for all How I managed to continue I was lucky that every education opportunity that came to Rubaya sub-county could fall my way. I have studied on sponsorship from primary up to university I was determined to acquire education no matter what came along the way I had a supportive family though poor Hard work and that is why I could still perform better amidst challenges faced. On the side, I was being congratulated for performing better in class by the head teacher at Rukore High school but I was not happy because of the challenges I was facing NUDIPU Plot 530, Kisasi Road-Bukoto, POBOX 8567, Kampala -Uganda

6. At Rukore, Kabale Trinity college & Makerere University • Swearing in as information minister at Rukore High school Moments of inclusion in school A dignified Society for all I am one of the very few students who benefited from the district bursary scheme at Rukore High School from senior one up to senior four. This was merit not charity because one had to be a good performer at primary level but also from a poor family. In the same school, I competed with others for the post of information minister and won with majority vote. I was sworn in to officially take over the post mentioned above. Hear, I felt included. From Rukore, I excelled with a first grade that attracted my member of parliament to pay my school fees for advanced level education but in a private school –Kabale Trinity college where I performed better and join government sponsorship for university education hence in January of 2013, I graduated with a bachelors degree in social work and social administration from Makerere university My academic success especially at university level is largely attributed to the social inclusive environment that I was accorded. NUDIPU Plot 530, Kisasi Road-Bukoto, POBOX 8567, Kampala -Uganda

7. After Education • Coming out of the National Youth conference organized by NUDIPU with support from Operation Days Work GENERAL PROGRESS ON MY CAREER A dignified Society for all I am one very few youth with disability who attain higher level of education in Uganda I have made friends, comrades and colleagues Now at NUDIPU under youth project that is funded by Operation Days Work Norway, I have acquired skills in report writing, planning ,programming, budgeting, monitoring and communication Increased self confidence and awareness I am sure that the skills acquired will be passed on to fellow youth with disabilities most especially girls who face many more challenges than their male counterparts NUDIPU Plot 530, Kisasi Road-Bukoto, POBOX 8567, Kampala -Uganda

8. CONCLUSION A dignified Society for all With out education, I would be in my mountainous region that is naturally difficult to live in for a person with disability, where there is limited access to health services, looked at as a misfit who cannot dig just like others, a burden to my family who has challenges in contributing physical hard labor contribution Therefore more resources, concerted effort should be put in education sector with emphasis on inclusive education. There are many other children in Uganda and the rest of the world who have not enjoyed the right to education there conditions of living are worse. I would like to humbly appreciate Atlas Alliance for the opportunity that has enabled me to share my experience. It is a pleasure NUDIPU Plot 530, Kisasi Road-Bukoto, POBOX 8567, Kampala -Uganda

9. THANK YOU A dignified Society for all QUESTIONS ARE HIGHLY WELCOME NUDIPU Plot 530, Kisasi Road-Bukoto, POBOX 8567, Kampala -Uganda