Ugandan Mother Confronts Disability Stigma in Fight for Her Sons Rights

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Martha Apolot, 21, mother of one Save Share Owalai, Uganda - Martha Apolot navigates a dusty path through fields of cassava and millet under the searing hot sun. She carries a hoe on one shoulder and her eight-year-old son, Aaron, on the other.

Every day, Martha takes Aaron to the fields where she works. The 21-year-old mother has been carrying her child since he was an infant due to his undiagnosed disability, which prevents him from walking, talking, or eating solid foods without assistance.

Martha’s past is marked by trauma. At the age of 13, a man lured her away from school and raped her. She does not know the perpetrator’s identity and has never seen him again. Her pregnancy created tension within her family, with her father initially refusing to accept her return home.

After giving birth at the age of 14, Martha spent time in friends’ homes before being reunited with her brother Paul, who offered support during a difficult period. However, when she returned home, her family banished her to a separate hut and provided limited assistance.

Martha’s son Aaron was born after a prolonged labor and was placed on oxygen shortly after birth. Doctors warned Martha of potential complications, which she experienced as an infant. When she returned home, her family offered little support, but Paul continued to help her care for Aaron.

As Aaron grew older, it became clear that he had a disability. Martha’s experience has been marked by stigma and ostracism from the wider community, who often view disabilities as burdens or “curses.” Families with disabled members may face social exclusion, poverty, and even abandonment or violence.

Martha has spoken publicly about her struggles with violent thoughts towards Aaron when faced with challenges. However, she began attending therapy sessions at Soroti’s hospital around the age of 17, where she met others with children with disabilities who offered support and encouragement.

Source: Al Jazeera