Spring 2024 Fellow Denis Ouma's Interview with the Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities

Published: Jul 18, 2024

Country: Uganda/USA

An African man in a wheelchair wearing sunglasses and a red sweatshirt stands beside a woman with tan skin, black hear and also wearing sunglasses and a red Uganda soccer jersey. — Denis Ouma and Host mentor Jacy Farkas are together at the University of Arizona Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities.

Denis Ouma, a disability advocate and entrepreneur from Uganda, was hosted by the University of Arizona Sonoran Center as part of the Professional Fellows Program on Inclusive Civic Engagement. His visit included sharing experiences on disability civic engagement and learning about inclusive practices in the U.S. Denis highlighted differences in disability support between Uganda and the U.S., emphasizing the visible impact of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

He sat with Sonoran Center’s Drew Milne to discuss his Fellowship experience and his aims in Uganda. He discussed the valuable perspectives on how to enhance disability advocacy and inclusive practices back home. He emphasized the importance of education, policy improvements, and stronger advocacy efforts to create a more inclusive environment for persons with disabilities in Uganda. Denis plans to implement these insights to drive positive change in his community, focusing on improving accessibility, raising awareness, and fostering a culture of inclusion.