The Observer (Kampala)
Christopher Bendana
3 September 2008
Disability is not inability is a common maxim. It is what Naiga Annet, a physically disabled woman in Mpererwe trading centre confirms.
Her fingers and legs are crippled; the fingers can't hold items firmly, and the legs are so crippled, making it impossible for her to stand at all. When out of the wheel chair she moves by wearing slippers in her hands which cushion the hand she uses for walking.
Yet she can sing, weave baskets and mats.
Naiga 35, was born at Entebbe Hospital when her family was still staying in Namasuba. At a tender age she went to stay with her grandparents in Masaka. In Masaka she was making a living weaving mats and baskets. She saved enough and was able to start a school (Nursery to Primary Two) which she called St. Annet.
She closed it when it made no economic gains. Her grand parents have since died and it is in Masaka that she met the Japanese Shiya Iga whom she requested for help in relocating to Kampala. It is Shiya who would later link her to Ssekajugo Samuel who hosts a program for the physically disabled people Esuubi ly'abalema on Star FM.
Ssekagujo introduced Naiga to singing and last year they released their first song Katonda Agera (the God who measures). She says she is working solo on a song called Nsiima Katonda (I am grateful to God). She has performed at Bat Valley Theatre, and at the Ekitoobero kya CBS at Nakivubo Stadium.
When I ask her why in all music genres she chose Kadongo Kamu she says; "It talks about real life".
She says singing solo is difficult, and she would like to sing in a band.
Naiga says, sometimes life has not been easy especially as a single mother having to provide for the three children; feeding them and educating them.
"Their father is in Masaka, he does not support me and by now I have let him mind his business as I struggle for my children."
Her daughter Birungi Sarah, 13, who is in P.6 says she thanks God for a good mother and boasts of a normal life among her peers. Birungi and the other two children have no disabilities. All Naiga's children were delivered normally - without a C-Section, she says.
During the interview, Birungi and a younger brother were next to their mother helping with every day chores; helping her to look for palm leaves for her crafts, or when it started raining and Birungi had to push the wheelchair to a shelter.
With no fingers, Naiga uses her feet to weave baskets and mats from palm leaves. A mat takes her two weeks to weave as well as the baskets. She fixes the price at Shs10,000 but says customers are usually willing to pay only Shs3000. By the time of the interview she had cleared her stock.
Naiga dreams of expanding her crafts business, but says money shortages have hindered her.
In a city littered with able-bodied beggars, it is humbling to stay even a single hour in Naiga's presence. She is a bunch of activity and ambition, despite not having formal education. She has, however, learnt how to read and write using her feet.
To other disabled people, she advises them not to live in despair but to plan and do something for themselves.
About the able-bodied beggars, Naiga says they are put on the streets as a source of income for other people. Although she empathises: "Sometimes able or disabled, life becomes so hard."
She fantasizes about a time she will be able to live in her own house with her children. Her physical limitations are not hindering her from dreaming about a booming grocery business since the crafts business is not that promising anymore.
Only then, would she settle and sing to the Lord, thanking him for the good life.
Amazing, how people stand on two beautiful legs, throw two strong arms in the air and lament about how God has not been good to them. And on the other side of town several miles along Gayaza Road, a young woman whose disability has made her stand out from any crowd, thanks God for His goodness with everything left of her!
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