Micheal Opiyo, a 40-year-old married man with a hearing impairment from Agonga village in Koch Goma sub-county, Nwoya district in Uganda, once faced severe hardship. “We could only have one meal a day, had no livelihood opportunities, and struggled with paying school fees for my children. Now, I pay all the school fees with ease, and my life has completely changed through the We are Able! (WaA!) programme,” he shared.
In August 2022, Micheal joined Kacel Watwero iSAVE, a self-help group, where he gained financial literacy, business skills, and training in the Integrated Farm Plan (PIP). With a small loan, he launched a piggery business that grew steadily, allowing him to reinvest in various farming activities, significantly improving his family’s food security and income.
His journey to self-reliance is a powerful testament to how the combined efforts of community mobilisation, OPD/CSO strengthening and public authority engagement can transform lives. Micheal became a strong advocate for disability rights. Elected as a representative of persons with hearing impairments in the Agonga Parish Association of Persons with Disabilities, he worked closely with NUDIPU, the Nwoya Disabled Person’s Union and the local government. Through these networks, he gained advocacy skills and knowledge about disability-inclusive laws and policies, allowing him to better advocate for his community.
Micheal, through his advocacy and the support of local OPDs, secured greater inclusion of persons with disabilities in local economic development programs. He accessed agricultural extension services from his local government, which helped him scale his farming operations. He now cultivates multiple acres of crops, including eggplants, tomatoes, peas, green peppers, soybeans, and cabbages. In the second season alone, he expects to earn approximately 7 million Ugandan shillings (€ 1,691.02) from his produce, ensuring both food security, economic empowerment and financial independence. “I didn’t know how to save money before, but now I have a good saving culture. We used to have only one meal a day, but now we have three,” he said proudly. “I never owned any livestock, but today I have goats, cows, poultry, and a thriving piggery business. I never knew persons with disabilities were valued like this. Thank you WaA! for changing my life.”
Photo Credit: Fredrick Echeku