In a quiet home within Ntungamo Municipality, 31-year-old Princess Akagyira Komugyira sits focused on knitting sweaters for schoolchildren. Surrounding her are threads of wool and finished garments, each piece representing both a source of income and a story of determination.
Princess Akagyira has relied on a wheelchair for over 10 years after a spinal cord injury ended her ability to walk.
"In 2012 September when I was in Senior One I got a spinal cord injury. That's why I am in a wheelchair. At home the conditions were tough and yet I was in need of support for my condition," Princess Akagyira said.
Following the accident, she learned new skills to stay active. Starting with weaving baskets and bags, she gradually moved into knitting sweaters and other garments, promoting her work through social media.
Today, her home-based business provides her with a livelihood despite mobility challenges that make traveling to town difficult.
"I derived inspiration to do this from my friends on social media," she explained.
The journey has not been without obstacles. Princess Akagyira highlights how community stereotypes often label women with disabilities as incapable.
She also points to challenges like customers taking products without paying and the high cost of essential supplies, including diapers and sanitary pads.
"When it comes to purchasing pads, it would have been better if they weren't taxed. Diapers are very expensive. We have many challenges on our bodies and surroundings," she said.
Once dreaming of joining the police force, Princess Akagyira had to put her academic ambitions on hold due to her accident and the high cost of treatment.
Despite this, she hopes to establish a vocational training center to equip girls with disabilities with practical skills, though limited capital remains a barrier.
Gorret Turyahirwa, a program assistant at NUDIPU in Ntungamo, is another example of resilience. Despite being blind, she thrives professionally, demonstrating that disability is not inability.
"As women with disabilities, we have been empowered to economically sustain our lives. Some women are doing agriculture, others weaving baskets, and others operate tailoring machines," Turyahirwa said.
She adds that barriers still exist, calling for greater support from families, communities, and institutions to ensure that children born with disabilities can thrive.
"People with disabilities have gone to school, but it's hard for employers to believe that a person with a disability can also be given a job and perform," Turyahirwa noted.
Through entrepreneurship, skill-building, and advocacy, women like Princess Akagyira and Gorret Turyahirwa are proving that determination and opportunity can overcome the challenges of disability.
