Ubuntu Narrative podcast by Jabali Consulting

When Dr. Edgar Twebembire walks into a hospital ward, he brings more than a stethoscope. He brings a quiet resilience shaped by years of pain, perseverance, and purpose. A junior doctor living with a physical disability, his story is not only about practising medicine. It is a story of dignity, voice, and the relentless pursuit of belonging in a society that too often ignores those who are different.

At just eight years old, Edgar’s life was forever changed by a motorbike accident. What began as a routine fracture developed into a serious bone infection called osteomyelitis, leaving him with a permanent physical impairment. That was only the beginning. Multiple surgeries followed, along with social stigma and the daily battle of trying to reach a goal few believed was possible for someone like him.

“I told my mom, ‘I want to be a doctor one day,’” he recalls. “She said, ‘As long as you want it and have life, you’ll make it.’”

That early moment of belief, together with the inspiration of the late Dr. Mwazi, an orthopaedic surgeon who also lived with a disability, gave Edgar the confidence and courage to keep moving forward.

But Edgar was never content to simply make it through. He became a voice for others, a changemaker who pushed back against barriers that were never designed with him in mind. From rural classrooms with no accommodations to medical schools where staircases stood in his way, he spoke up. And institutions began to pay attention.
 “Whatever I felt uncomfortable with, my first stop was the Dean of Students,” Edgar says. Often, his willingness to speak out led to classrooms being moved, policies being reviewed, and attitudes beginning to change.

His powerful story is shared in Ubuntu Narratives, the podcast hosted by Christine Butegwa, CEO of Jabali Consulting. Christine gives Edgar the space to tell his story with honesty and heart, helping listeners see the link between individual resilience and institutional responsibility.

During the conversation, Christine reflects.
 “What I’m hearing is, you had your voice. But the workplace and the training institution also had to choose to listen.”
 It is a moment that captures a larger truth. Inclusion should not fall entirely on the shoulders of those excluded. It is a shared duty, a choice to listen and to act.

Even now, Edgar faces moments of prejudice. “Even as a doctor, people still call me names,” he shares. “But I never let it define me. Disability is not always visible. We must treat every patient with the dignity they deserve.”

Today, Edgar practices medicine in Kampala. He continues to challenge stigma in both quiet and bold ways. He has learned basic sign language to better serve deaf patients and insists that true accessibility must extend beyond physical ramps. It must include empathy, policy change, and visible representation.

This episode of Ubuntu Narratives podcast does more than highlight Edgar’s journey. It connects his personal experience to the spirit of Ubuntu, the African philosophy that reminds us that we are human through our relationships with others. This episode becomes more than a conversation. It becomes a call to action for institutions to reflect, listen, and lead with purpose.

Dr. Edgar’s message to employers is clear:
 “When you advertise jobs, include people with disabilities. Say it clearly. We need to know we are welcome.”
 And his advice carries a deeper warning:
 “Disability can come to any of us at any time. So treat people with disabilities with care, with respect, and according to what they can do, not what they cannot.”

🎧 Listen to Episode 5 of Ubuntu Narratives podcast, hosted by Christine Butegwa, to hear Dr. Edgar’s full journey and discover what it means to build truly inclusive workplaces.

To schedule a consultation on gender and inclusion, call Jabali Consulting on +256706470129 or email: info@jabaliconsulting.com
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