By Jabali Consulting team

At Jabali Consulting, we believe that every story has the power to shift paradigms. In the final episode of our Ubuntu Narratives podcast’s first season, our CEO, Christine Butegwa, sat down with Agnes Dhatemwa, a disability inclusion and gender-based violence legal officer at FIDA Uganda, to explore what it means to “work differently” in a world still catching up to the realities of disability justice.

Agnes doesn’t just talk about inclusion; she lives it.

“I learnt justice through a different lens.”

Agnes’ journey began not in a courtroom but in the corridors of NUDIPU, the National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda. It was here, amidst community outreach and justice clinics, that she met Esther Chowdhury, a brilliant, visually impaired CEO who led with clarity and courage.

“She inspired me,” Agnes tells Christine. “Esther showed me that disability is not inability; it’s a leadership path.”

Agnes, a self-declared feminist lawyer, carried that inspiration forward. Today, at FIDA Uganda, she offers free legal aid, leads community advocacy, and helps design systems where no one is left behind.

The Law Is Clear: But Is the Workplace?

Uganda’s legal system has paved the way. The country has ratified international conventions, passed the Persons with Disabilities Act, embedded inclusive provisions in the 1995 Constitution, and even offers tax incentives for employers who hire persons with disabilities.

Yet, the disconnect remains.

“Employers don’t always know the rights,” Agnes explains. “And persons with disabilities don’t always know how to claim them.”

From physical inaccessibility in office buildings to lack of sign language interpretation in meetings to discrimination masked as jokes, the barriers persist not because of policy, but because of practice.

Christine probes deeper: What does inclusion look like, really?

Agnes’ answer is both practical and personal.

It starts with asking, not assuming.

“Before you carry someone in a wheelchair, ask. Before you bring in a sign language interpreter, ask. That’s dignity.”

Inclusion is not a checklist; it’s a culture. It’s ramps and empathy. It’s Braille signage and fair pay. It’s building teams where employees are not pitied but respected.

Justice in Action: Real Stories of Change

Agnes shares powerful wins that reflect FIDA’s mission and Jabali’s too.

One story stands out: a woman with a disability was dismissed unfairly from work for demanding two months’ unpaid salary. Through FIDA’s mediation, she won compensation and now runs a thriving catering business in Mukono.

“She was the family’s breadwinner. That case wasn’t just about money; it was about dignity restored,” Agnes says

These are the everyday revolutions that often go unnoticed, but for Agnes and her team, they are everything.

Changing Culture, One Policy at a Time

Through radio talk shows, legal trainings, social media campaigns, and community legal volunteers, FIDA is embedding disability inclusion into Uganda’s social fabric.

Agnes has trained MPs, judges, local council leaders, and lawyers in how to build workplaces that welcome, not just accommodate. And always, she returns to the core idea:

“We spend 75% of our time at work. If the workplace isn’t safe, we’re not safe.”

At Jabali Consulting, “Working Differently” isn’t just the title of a podcast episode; it’s our approach to feminist leadership, storytelling, and system change. Through conversations like this one with Agnes, we’re reminded that equity isn’t achieved through theory but through human-centred action, institutional reform, and radical listening.

Contact Jabali Consulting today on info@jabaliconsulting.com to learn more about our services and how we can help you achieve your gender equality, diversity and inclusion goals.

This blog was written by Michael Ainomugisha, part of Jabali Consulting’s Communications Team.

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