The 1994 genocide against the Tutsi has left thousands of people of all ages with various psychological and physical impairments.

At the age of nine, Jacques Mugisha, a 28-year-old from Kacyiru sector in Gasabo, together with his family members, was forced to leave his home and flee to Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) controlled territory. On their way, a grenade seriously injured his eyes and left him with totally blind.

Talking to The Rwanda Focus, Mugisha, who was in primary three at the time he lost his vision, said "I remember what it was like to see what was happening on earth before my eyes were injured. You can imagine how sorrowful it is to lose your eyes at this very early age. It was an unbearable and traumatizing situation. I asked myself, what would my future be like?"

Mugisha's parents sent him to study at Home de la Vierge de Pauvres, (VP?Gatagara) in the South, a year after his injuries healed.

Mugisha first learnt how to use a cane so he can walk by himself, then learnt to read braille, and then how to complete other daily living activities, like bathing and washing his clothes, on his own.

"Just three months after I began school, I felt as though I was any other student. I cannot really tell you how I managed to cope with the situation within such a short period, but I can't overstate the support my family and relatives showed me, they contributed much to my change".

After finishing primary school in 2000 with good marks, Mugisha joined Gahini Secondary School, Arts section.

"It wasn't easy. During lectures, I had to pay very close attention. If I wanted to review notes, I had to look for a colleague to read them to me."

"I've been lucky to have a mother that never abandoned me during my difficult times. Instead, she comforted me, and now I am benefitting from all her love."

In the library, Mugisha again had to petition classmates to read books aloud to him.

Despite these challenges, Mugisha finished secondary school in 2007. Thanks to an education policy that supported students with various impairments, he received a scholarship to the National University of Rwanda (NUR) in 2009, where he studied Journalism.

Mugisha's studies at the University were aided by software known as Job Access With Speech (JAWS), a program that read aloud what was on the screen. Group discussions also helped him a lot and contributed to his success both at secondary and university level.

During his studies, Mugisha worked at Radio Salus, a NUR owned radio, as a talk show host and a news reporter.

"I had a following of fans, and two of them came to the radio station just to see who Mugisha was, and were surprised to find I had vision impairment" he explained.

Mugisha also did an internship on Radio Rwanda and TVR, noting, "The radio management was impressed to know how I managed to work while blind. I showed them that an impairment is just a hindrance, not an incapacity.

People may wonder how a blind person can process news. As any other journalist, I conduct oral interviews to gain knowledge. Sometimes, someone helps me reach the interviewee, especially in new areas that I am not familiar with. I write the story using my machine, and I can read brail with my fingers."

In his spare time, Mugisha listens to music and football broadcasts, as he cannot watch the matches on TV.

"Even if I cannot see, I can sense things and feel things. This way, I can tell almost all of the landmarks in my way. At home, I arrange things carefully so I always know how to get them." Mugisha said.

He went on: "I'd say I've been lucky to have a mother that never abandoned me during my difficult times. Instead, she comforted me, and now I am benefitting from all her love."

He urges parents of impaired children not to view them as a burden, but to help them overcome their challenges and in daily life and their studies." They are capable just like any other children".