By Robert Nkwangu, Uganda, Public Management, Morgan State University
Robert Nkwangu has seven years of experience working in issues related to children, youth and people with disabilities (PWDs). Currently, he is working with the National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda (NUDIPU) representing youth with disabilities, the Uganda Society for Disabled Children (USDC) and the Kampala Capital City Youth Council. His tasks are to ensure that youth with disabilities are given equal opportunities at all levels, both in government and in civil society. He also chairs the Finance Committee of the NUDIPU Board of Directors.
He previously worked as a job support and political officer with Handicap International. Nkwangu has been deaf since the age of 6 and uses sign language and interpreters to communicate but can do some lip reading. He finalized the research thesis for his master’s degree in social sector planning and management from Makerere University, Kampala.
Upon his return from the Washington Fellowship, he hopes to mobilize young people, especially the marginalized PWDs, to raise their voices, advocate for inclusiveness, promote their human rights and form groups with unique initiatives so as to benefit from the many opportunities available to them.