Past the Disability | Nothing About Us Without Us

by Patrick Ojok, Program Manager — GDPU | A 2026 LDA Program Partner

I am a Ugandan living with a physical disability. In my previous workplace, I faced discrimination, rejection, and physical barriers. Despite holding a Post-graduate Diploma in Education and a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, the leadership’s focus remained solely on my physical limitations rather than my skills. This led me to feel discouraged and undervalued, leaving me with a profound sense of anxiety and hopelessness about my career. I feared I would never achieve the independence and the high self-esteem I needed.

When I was invited to interview for a position at the **Gulu Disabled Persons Union (GDPU), **a grassroots organization for persons with disabilities, I was hesitant, fearing I would be treated with pity rather than professionalism. However, the atmosphere during the interview was very different; the interviewers were passionate, and the majority were people with disabilities themselves. I candidly shared my past challenges and my desire to advocate for others, showcasing my passion as someone with lived experience. Eventually, I accepted the position of Advocacy Field Officer, which provided me with reasonable accommodations, including flexible hours and a remote work option.

Sexual Reproductive Health Right (SRHR) Research Project Inception meeting for People with disabilities Local Government leaders in Gulu | 2025

Among my first responsibilities was to spearhead a campaign using sports and peer mentoring to increase the individual belief in their capacity among children with disabilities. This campaign provided them with the confidence to challenge discrimination, advocate for their own inclusion, and take responsibility for their health and well-being, using my personal experience to shape the narrative.

The campaign successfully influenced local policy. Now, representatives of people with disabilities serve on the building control committee, District and City Service commissions, and District and City Land boards. Furthermore, district and city authorities now consult our organization to recommend individuals with disabilities for various boards, commissions, and higher institutions of learning.

The district now ensures that Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) signed between the local government and partners include a clause detailing their work for people with disabilities. These are shared with GDPU so we can monitor compliance. I feel that people with disabilities have finally been fully included.

How it all started

Nyeko Okello, a wheelchair user from a rural, hard-to-reach community in Gulu district, visited the District Community Development office (DCDO) to express his frustration. He had missed relief items several times because he could not manage the long distribution lines, which required significant physical strength.

Gulu, located in Northern Uganda, approximately 330–340 kilometers north of Kampala, serves as a major stopover to South Sudan. Nyeko felt a deep sense of invisibility and anger at being pushed off the line by able-bodied people because he was not strong enough to persevere during the pushing. This system was a result of the Lord’s Resistance Army war, which forced the community into Internally Displaced Persons camps where the infrastructure was unfriendly and inaccessible.

A Wheelchair Technician from Gulu Region Hospital Inspecting the Quality of GDPU Chairs before giving out to Beneficiaries | 2025

The Community Development Officer realized the challenge and forwarded the matter to the District Commissioner. The DCDO identified a redundant community hall and requested that Nyeko mobilize people with disabilities so they could access relief items at this specific venue. Nyeko soon mobilized over 80 other persons with disabilities, who began receiving items from the hall without the pressure and physical struggle of the general line.

Within six months, Nyeko Okello and his colleagues lobbied the DCDO to use the hall to train young people with disabilities in market-relevant skills so they could lead independent lives. Over 25 young people gained skills and began earning money to support their families. This loose group evolved into a recognized advocacy organization with over 200 members, and Nyeko became a founding board member, ensuring the mantra nothing about us without us became a reality in local decision-making.

Bringing on Stage Local Artists with Disabilities

In early 2023, we realized that our community had many talented young people with disabilities in the music industry who could not afford to record or perfect their songs. As Program Manager, I collaborated with the Skilling Project Coordinator to develop a concept for an accessible recording studio at our office premises. The GDPU board of trustees provided 50% of the starting costs, utilizing unused rooms and income from our production unit.

Community Dialogue with Parents of Children and Persons with Disabilities on How Best to Promote Inclusion of PWDs to Different Services Provided by Local Government | 2026

GDPU took a two-pronged approach: first, an active board member who is an artist with a disability convinced the team to support the project. Second, we worked with a UK partner, Enhancing the Capacity of Persons with Disabilities (ETC of PWDs), to find additional funding. Andy Carrigan, a UK music promoter, also made a contribution to kickstart the project.

The studio was successfully established in April 2023. By the end of 2025, GDPU had supported 21 local artists across different disability categories. Each artist now has over five recorded songs, and music performance has become a viable livelihood for them. Most importantly, 18 members who previously lacked the funds for recording services now use the studio, which has increased their economic independence and self-esteem.

Apiyo Mirriam | From an Invisible Position to Role Model Mentor

In northern Uganda, people with disabilities were often considered non-productive and hidden away, relying on charity and facing profound social isolation. Apiyo Mirriam, a young woman with an intellectual disability, lived in this community. Despite her interest in working, she was shy, lacked confidence, and was hesitant to speak in public.

Miriam Apiyo Receiving Award from Light for The World (LFW) | 2024

Mirriam initially enrolled in the GDPU sweater-knitting program. She was eventually selected as a peer mentor role model because of her moving testimonies during life-skills sessions. She received intensive training in disability rights, leadership, and government programs like the National Disability Grant. With GDPU’s support, she mobilized 23 groups of people with disabilities and parents to receive grants through the Gulu City Community Development Officer. She also registered a sweater-knitting enterprise that supplies schools in Gulu and neighboring districts.

Within two years, Mirriam transformed into a confident community leader. She received an award from Light for the World as the hardest-working young person with a disability in northern Uganda. Her family and community now see her as a valuable breadwinner rather than a liability.

“My intellectual disability did not define me, nor should it define anyone else.” Apiyo Mirriam.

The Impact of GDPU

This initiative demonstrates that when persons with disabilities are equipped with skills, tools, and leadership roles, they become catalysts for change. As a grassroots organization, GDPU has improved self-esteem through economic empowerment and mobility independence via assistive technology.

GDPU Board and Staff Pictured with Beneficiaries of Assistive Technology | 2025

Over the years, we have produced 300 assistive devices, trained 230 youth in market-relevant skills, and built accessible toilets in eight primary schools to promote enrolment and retention. These results have strengthened our evidence-based advocacy.

My journey with GDPU has been transformative. I turned my anxiety into confidence and purpose. Working with those who see past the disability helped me build pride, and I now lead a team of staff and volunteers, proving that with the right support, I can not only succeed but excel.

Follow & Engage GDPU on: Website | Facebook | Instagram