Struggling to survive in a world of discrimination
Jul 05, 2009
IT took Faith Bwanika 10 years to realise she was different from her siblings. Confused by Bwanika’s light skin, one day, her younger sister asked their mother: “Mummy, who is Bwanika’s mummy?â€
By Isabel Pike
IT took Faith Bwanika 10 years to realise she was different from her siblings. Confused by Bwanika’s light skin, one day, her younger sister asked their mother: “Mummy, who is Bwanika’s mummy?â€
Patiently, Bwanika’s mother said she was the mother of both girls and that Bwanika’s differences were part of God’s plan.
Bwanika, now 27 and working as an administrator at the Pearl Institute of Cosmetology, Design and Commercial Studies, comes from a family of 10 children.
“We were all treated equally and that is why it took me time to realise I was different,†she says.
Her mother, with whom Bwanika still lives, helped her find sun cream which she wears to protect her skin.
Bwanika always got along well with other pupils in primary school.
“They would play in the shade with me because they knew I could not be in the sun for long,†she says.
She was a good student who sat at the front of the class on account of her eagerness as well as her poor eye-sight. At school, she won prizes for punctuality, including a wall clock.
Bwanika’s popularity did not fade and in Senior Three, the students body voted her assistant prefect. She did not run again in Senior Four because she wanted to concentrate on her studies.
Although Bwanika’s grandmother lives in Masaka, she hates going there because life there is hard for albinos.
“The albinos there have no sunscreen, no umbrellas and no shades. They face many challenges.
“Many people in villages are illiterate so stigma towards albinos is higher there than in the towns,†she says.
Though a self-proclaimed city girl, Bwanika is committed to fighting the discrimination of albinos.
In addition to her job at Pearl Institute, Bwanika is the general secretary of the recently formed Uganda Albinos Association.
“I am always touched when I see other albinos suffering. I feel I have to do something to help them,†she says.
With a mixture of fear and anger, Bwanika condemns the traditional healers who target albinos and the attacks wrought on them in Tanzania.
Looking at her hands, Bwanika says: “Only the colour of the skin differs, otherwise, albinos are just like any other Ugandan.â€
Florence Magembe, the proprietor of Pearl Institute, is highly supportive of Bwanika’s activism and gives the Uganda Albino’s Association space to meet on the beauty school’s premises.
Bwanika did not have any albino friends when growing up, but she remembers seeing two older albino girls who lived in her area. “I was young. I did not get the chance to get close to them.†Now, she always makes an effort to reach out to other albinos.
In the future, she hopes to bring Ugandan albino children together by building a school for them or through a youth club.
A small gold and diamond cross hangs around Bwanika’s neck. She describes her family as strongly religious and attributes her strength to her belief in God. “When something is bothering me, I turn to my Bible,†she says.
Smiling, and somewhat shy, Bwanika says: “I have ever had a boyfriend.†The two parted amicably and Bwanika says she is now “single and searching.â€
But she is taking her time and acting carefully. Although her last boyfriend genuinely loved her, Bwanika has also been pursued by men because of her differences.
“Some men look at me and wonder: “Is she like other women?†But I am not a teenager so I cannot be deceived,†she says.
Wearing a hot pink shirt and high heels, Bwanika walks confidently around Pearl Institute.
She chats with the women practising their hair styling techniques and manicure skills. When Bwanika leaves, they call out to her to stay.
IT took Faith Bwanika 10 years to realise she was different from her siblings. Confused by Bwanika’s light skin, one day, her younger sister asked their mother: “Mummy, who is Bwanika’s mummy?â€
Patiently, Bwanika’s mother said she was the mother of both girls and that Bwanika’s differences were part of God’s plan.
Bwanika, now 27 and working as an administrator at the Pearl Institute of Cosmetology, Design and Commercial Studies, comes from a family of 10 children.
“We were all treated equally and that is why it took me time to realise I was different,†she says.
Her mother, with whom Bwanika still lives, helped her find sun cream which she wears to protect her skin.
Bwanika always got along well with other pupils in primary school.
“They would play in the shade with me because they knew I could not be in the sun for long,†she says.
She was a good student who sat at the front of the class on account of her eagerness as well as her poor eye-sight. At school, she won prizes for punctuality, including a wall clock.
Bwanika’s popularity did not fade and in Senior Three, the students body voted her assistant prefect. She did not run again in Senior Four because she wanted to concentrate on her studies.
Although Bwanika’s grandmother lives in Masaka, she hates going there because life there is hard for albinos.
“The albinos there have no sunscreen, no umbrellas and no shades. They face many challenges.
“Many people in villages are illiterate so stigma towards albinos is higher there than in the towns,†she says.
Though a self-proclaimed city girl, Bwanika is committed to fighting the discrimination of albinos.
In addition to her job at Pearl Institute, Bwanika is the general secretary of the recently formed Uganda Albinos Association.
“I am always touched when I see other albinos suffering. I feel I have to do something to help them,†she says.
With a mixture of fear and anger, Bwanika condemns the traditional healers who target albinos and the attacks wrought on them in Tanzania.
Looking at her hands, Bwanika says: “Only the colour of the skin differs, otherwise, albinos are just like any other Ugandan.â€
Florence Magembe, the proprietor of Pearl Institute, is highly supportive of Bwanika’s activism and gives the Uganda Albino’s Association space to meet on the beauty school’s premises.
Bwanika did not have any albino friends when growing up, but she remembers seeing two older albino girls who lived in her area. “I was young. I did not get the chance to get close to them.†Now, she always makes an effort to reach out to other albinos.
In the future, she hopes to bring Ugandan albino children together by building a school for them or through a youth club.
A small gold and diamond cross hangs around Bwanika’s neck. She describes her family as strongly religious and attributes her strength to her belief in God. “When something is bothering me, I turn to my Bible,†she says.
Smiling, and somewhat shy, Bwanika says: “I have ever had a boyfriend.†The two parted amicably and Bwanika says she is now “single and searching.â€
But she is taking her time and acting carefully. Although her last boyfriend genuinely loved her, Bwanika has also been pursued by men because of her differences.
“Some men look at me and wonder: “Is she like other women?†But I am not a teenager so I cannot be deceived,†she says.
Wearing a hot pink shirt and high heels, Bwanika walks confidently around Pearl Institute.
She chats with the women practising their hair styling techniques and manicure skills. When Bwanika leaves, they call out to her to stay.