“Madam, have you ever seen an old Person Living with Albinism?”

(PHOTO CREDIT: Masego Morulane/Getty Images)

My Boda guy never delays my journeys except for this inevitable traffic jam that gives us extra minutes of arguing about issues he thinks he authoritatively disseminates “truth” of society.

These conversations never start at journey start, No! Guys they usually ‘creep’ in a few into ride, abruptly and like a continuation of some conversation I don’t remember or know about. I think am describing my guy too much. Straight off guys!

So this hot afternoon, on a bumpy road heading off to my destination silent as a grave except for the external noise. Then boom!

“Naye nyabo wali olabwe ko namagonye omukade? Okimanyi nti abo baffa batto. Nze nkubulila, kumweka kyendiko simulabanga” (But madam have you ever seen an old person living with albinism? Do you know that they die young? Me I tell you that at my age, I have never seen one.)

It took me seconds to shake out of this question ate look at how the devil works; I searched my mind for one but none. Then I almost in a dismissive manner said, “nange” (me too)

Behold, a double thought…I reflected on how this Society Intelligence Division (SID) is society itself. Upon which, I knew it was my role to debunk this, “truth” and thus ushered myself into a holy sermon to my Boda guy.

First, yes it may be true that as an individual, you may have not seen one but it’s no fact that there are no old persons living with albinism. It is only a difference with skin formation but just as you age so do they age, work, contribute to society and exist.

This led us into an unwelcomed Q & A. Guys it was unwelcome because eeeee, they were three questions with a thousand follow up sub questions. I had to domesticate the science of why the skin is different. This had follow ups of explaining the hair, eyes and etc.

By destination reach, friends, my guy had appreciated the new “truth”, acknowledged the marginalizing stereotype and I am such a good believer, the next client would be newly preached to.

Albinism is a condition that comes with lack of melanin pigment among those living with it and these results into impairments of the skin, eyes and hair. It is a hereditary factor and only happens with parents being both carriers of the albinism genes.

A study conducted in Busoga sub-region observed that albinism is widely spread in Uganda with a lot of myths, diverse attitudes and tradition beliefs that surround the affected persons within both families and communities due to their difference. Among some of these conceptions can be harmful and a further marginalization of the affected.

The wide spread of this condition has overtime necessitated creation of organizations like Source of the Nile Union of Persons Living with Disability of Albinism among others to help meet the various needs and representation of persons living with the impairment.

Research indeed explain discovery of the “otherness” feeling in society by victims of albinism.

Respondents to this study highlighted the societal outcast of them as ghosts, curses, and all names. But they affirmed that, “We are the same people, we are one people…despite sex, colour we are all created in God’s image and have same rights. People living with albinism are normal people…they can do everything like we do, they can go to school.” 

I pray we have collectively answered, “…have you ever seen an old person living with albinism?”

#EndStereotyping