podcast

Christine Kirungi, Disability Activist and Executive Director at Uganda National Association of Cerebral Palsy (UNAC), is our guest on this episode.

She too is living with cerebral palsy but that has not stopped her from advocating for community integration, to break stigma against people with disabilities. As well as partaking in community building for the benefit of all. See more

Your disability is not the end of your world. This echoes through our conversation with Esther Kyozira, Program Officer at Disability Rights Fund. There is a clear intersection between her personal commitment/passion and the formal work that she does, as she herself has experienced what it is like to develop a disability later in life.

She shares with us stories and testimonies of the ways in which she has walked with several newly disabled people and their caregivers. Advocating for accessibility, independence and inclusivity. See more

Veronica Nagadya, a community psychologist, joins us as we recount, reflect on and celebrate the life of the late Ssengooba Med. The two were cousins and had a close working relationship.

Often it is assumed that persons living with disability are solely on the receiving end of generosity. But it is clear through Ssengooba Med's life, the life of an educator, advocate and mentor, that this is just not the case. He gave so much of himself to individuals and the work that he did through the Disability Rights Fund, and projects her founded such as the school Valley Side Academy. See more

This season of the podcast is hosted by Catherine Mugabo, with a focus on generosity and persons living with a disability.

Follow our weekly episodes, share your thoughts and engage with us here on Anchor or one of CivSource Africa’s various platforms. See more

As we draw closer to the end of the season we are joined by Jimmy Spire Ssentongo, a cartoonist and a philosophy lecturer. Over the years he has used his voice and talent to amplify the voices and grievances of others, from a place of generosity. For him, humour has always been a form of communication. We discuss this, his 23-day quarantine ordeal, and his book titled 'Uncomfortable Laughter' that he published with the support of our Kuonyesha Art Fund. See more

Affectionately known as Maama by many in her community, we sit down with Santa Joyce Lakar who is currently the Chairperson at Atiak Sugarcane Plantation Outgrowers Cooperative Society. Her influence however goes beyond this as she has lived a full life of generosity across a broad spectrum of jobs and projects including serving as a district councillor and peacebuilding in the Northern region of Uganda. See More

Storytelling can be a big part of community building. In this episode, Sarah Nsigaye, Documentary Filmmaker and Journalist, details the way she has used the tool of filmmaking in various rural communities across Uganda to educate, empower and create jobs. Centering indigenous knowledge and giving communities the opportunity to see and tell their own stories has in ways transformed what has often been seen as a patronising tool of colonialism. And this, Sarah Nsigaye highlights, is the type of generosity she would like to be known for; one that is empowering, one that has a long-lasting effect. More

Music therapy has proven to be beneficial for various mental health conditions. Benjamin Spartos Komagum, recording and performing artist, dedicates a lot of his time and talent to hosting music sessions at the Gulu Regional Referral Mental Unit.

Having experienced depression, and the power of music and community in overcoming it; he highlights the ways in which artists need community, and community needs artists. More

Tereka Kenneth Desire, dancer and choreographer, is the director and vision bearer behind the Unseen Dreams Dance Arts Festival that has been running for the past 6 years. Through generosity, the platform seeks to empower and break barriers by promoting inclusivity for marginalized and differently-abled people who are usually overlooked. He shares with us his experience and testimonies of the unifying power of art, dance and generosity. More

Visual Arts Practitioner & Consultant, Owekitiibwa Nuwa Wamala Nnyanzi, honored by the Kabaka of Buganda in 1992, joins us in episode 4 and trails tales of generosity across generations as he shares his life's journey.

It is made evident that the impact of generosity lasts beyond just the initial giver and receiver, and this has greatly influenced the artist and person that Owekitiibwa Nnyanzi has chosen to be. He is a living testimony of generosity and offers his art and knowledge in the same manner. More

Heritage activist, Emily Drani joins us in this episode as we dive into the value of generosity, especially in a society that is increasingly individualistic.

She trails her experiences of cultural diversity and generosity from her childhood to the season at which she worked as Executive Director of the Cross-Cultural Foundation of Uganda. And through this points out the powerful effect of generosity on the greater good of the community and through generations. More

Tshaka Mayanja, renowned Ugandan musician who has transformed lives through his gift, describes himself as a mystic man.

As he takes us through his musical journey in this episode, it is evident that it has not been a one man journey. It is filled with generosity that he has shown as well as received.

He shares with us different stories on platforms he has founded like the Jazz Safari Festival and various ways in which he and fellow musicians have given back to the community. More

Sinza, a fictionally animated character who through educational videos teaches children and her wider community about health and nutrition issues, sits at the helm of The Sinza Project.

In episode 1 of this season, we are joined by Rita Kayeny, Executive Director at Sinza and Sonia Abiyinza, Managing director at Sinza. They walk us through the organizations origin and mission, highlighting the ways in which generosity has carried them and guides them. Emphasizing that even in its simplest forms, generosity is powerful. More

We travel to Kapchorwa for this season finale, and meet Mr. Joshua Cheptegei, Ugandan long-distance runner and current 5000 & 10,000 metres world record holder.

Kapchorwa, he tells us, literally means 'home of friends'. Generosity lies in their geography and in their DNA. And he shares anecdotes of ways his community propelled him towards his dream and ways in which he is doing the same for children and individuals in Kapchorwa. More

As we draw closer to the end of the season, we sit down with Pastor Moses Mukisa, founding pastor of Worship Harvest Ministries. Through wise and gentle words he brings to light not just the importance of generosity, but the importance of a justice driven generosity. One that builds bridges, transforms rather than sustains dependence and builds relationships.

These and other principles have been the foundation on which the Worship Harvest Church community has been. built. And in turn have been the principles that they seek to transform their communities with. More

Ms. Doreen Nawejje, CEO of Women and Children with albinism Uganda, joins us in episode 7 as we delve into her journey with the organisation and the role generosity has played in her immediate and extended community.

She is an artist and teacher who describes herself as positively living with albinism, and moved by the example of her own parents, sibling and grandmother, has dedicated her life to supporting people living with albinism.

As she shares, it is clear that a key element at the foundation of generosity is acceptance. More

Barbara Kasekende, Corporate Social Investments Manager at Stanbic Bank Uganda, aims to do two things every day; learn something new and impact a life.

It is her perspective on impact, tied to generosity, that drives her to give back to the community, particularly young people.

She shares with us how she uses her platform at Stanbic Bank, to implement programs that provide holistic education to young people and guide them on their journey towards self-awareness. Being self-aware, understanding your value and uniqueness are the first steps to making an impact and living a life of generosity. More….

Ruth Bahika, child psychologist and Founder, Director at Grace Villa (a sanctuary for at risk girls in Kabale) shares with us the journey that led her to start the home and the generosity that has kept it running for the past 7 years.

Grace Villa has been built and run on the generosity of community. And this has come out of people’s innate desire to give, which is strengthened by various examples and expressions of generosity that they are exposed to. More

Wetsemba Miriam, documentary photographer and Jim Joel Nyakaana, travel and documentary photographer take us behind their lenses in episode 4 of this season.

Commissioned by CivSource Africa, they travelled across various regions within Uganda, to document expressions and symbols of generosity.

Both share with us what they saw and learned from the communities they visited. They both underscore that stories are a part of the way you journey with a community into who they are. These very stories are important in highlighting our circular forms of giving, and the ways we spill into each other, despite colonial narratives and borders that have been created. More

“I was standing on the shoulder of giants”, says Mrs. Pheona Nabasa Wall, President of The Uganda Law Society, as she describes how generosity played a part in her campaign for the position.

Ms Wall joins us in episode 3 as we continue to delve into the beauty of generosity.

She shares stories of the individuals and organizations that took up her cause as their own during her campaign. She highlights how very often, the generosity of women helps propel other women into public office.

She also shares with us what generosity looks like in the fraternity of lawyers in Uganda, both externally and internally. More