Disabled persons are naturally survivors. They survive on instincts that make them look beyond the horizons and turn otherwise raw deals into money-minting ventures, writes Stella Ashiimwe.

For Odeta Mukagihana, where her physical disability ends is where her creativity starts. But unlike the disability that will not be increasing in nature – if such a thing would exist – her creativity has no limits. 

"When I began harnessing my skills of creating shopping bags using banana fibers to make crafts, making envelopes using Hima Cement paper, weaving baskets and strings for mats (imisambi), by then I was 34 years, realised that my style or, as some would say, my specific hand, was the best; I had my unique identity that showed in my crafts,” Mukagihana, now 49 years old, says.

She is feisty and exuding exuberance when this paper pays her a visit in Gikondo, where the Imbarutso cooperative to which she subscribes is based. It’s this exuberance and a seemingly extroverted person that leaves her at the point of chattering – she just won’t stop talking about herself, even if it means self-praise.

She says when she became more comfortable with her fingers, which transformed into a sleight of the hand for crafts-making; she gained more confidence in her abilities and began to freely market herself even among her peers.

"I am disabled because my legs cannot support me. Even then, I am still able to produce lovely artwork,” Mukagihana boasts. 

Mukagihana says in her fiber-craft class in the cooperative, there was a woman whose every touch and weave of fiber gave out a magical glow like no one else’s.  She says the woman could make crafts in various styles but Mukagihana’s still stood out. 

"She would make trays, shopping bags, envelops, bangles, etc. We all would gather around after completing a few fibre mats using similar material but I stood out with my work,” Mukagihana says.  

From the proceeds of her crafts, Mukagihana says she has been able to pay school fees for her kids and build herself a 3-bedroom house in Gikondo. 

For now, she has big ambitions ahead, but she feels the government should institute a special grant for the disabled as living allowance, which she says would help them meet the extra costs of mobility and care.

For her dreams, Mukagihana says she wants to begin supplying her crafts such as baskets, invitation cards and mats to supermarkets and tourist points such as at the entrances of Akagera National Park.  

Better than the able bodied 

One nugget of wisdom about disability comes from Mukagihana’s husband, Alphonse Mudenge. "While several men marry women who are able bodied and educated but lazy, my wife, on the other hand, is a hard working woman,” he proudly says of his wife.  

"No one should decide for you who to marry. Some people may tell you what to do because they think they know better or have your best interests at heart, but it’s up to you to decide what to consider and what to ignore. 

"Most of my friends admonished me but I am a happy man. Happier than most of them, I think. My wife has developmental ideas and together we are getting the best out of life. It is best to like someone for who they are. Disability doesn’t matter. Mukagihana is like any other woman. Like most couples, we help each other. For instance, in most cases I have to bathe her, wash her clothes and take our children to school.” 

Mudenge and Mukagihana have been living together as husband and wife – though not officially – for the last nine years and the couple has three children. Their first born is nine years old while the youngest is two. Mudenge says he now plans to pay dowry and legitimise his relationship with Mukagihana.