PETER OGIK; CO-FOUNDER THE SOURCE OF THE NILE UNION OF PERSONS OF ALBINISM (SNUPA) AND ADVOCATE FOR PERSONS WITH ALBINISM IN UGANDA

Peter Ogik is best known as the co-founder of The Source of The Nile Union of Persons of Albinism (SNUPA) where he spearheads advocacy and awareness around albinism in Uganda. Aside from that, he is also the chairperson of the youth committee under the National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda (NUDIPU). His multifaceted involvement underscores a commitment to comprehensive change, challenging societal norms, and creating a future where individuals with albinism are fully integrated into the society and contribute meaningfully to their communities.

EARLY LIFE

Getting to where he is was no walk in the park. Peter Ogik was born to James Oringa and Acheng in Jinja, Uganda. His birth was unique to his parents as they had never experienced birthing a child with albinism. Needless to say, the illiteracy around albinism left them uncertain about how to care for their unique child. Sadly, this unfamiliarity led to a painful social distancing, with most of their friends perceiving the family as cursed. Despite this, Peter's childhood remained a happy one, characterized by the unwavering love and acceptance of his God-fearing parents who treated him no differently than his siblings.

At the inception of his education sphere of life, life took a challenging turn. Schoolmates, driven by ignorance, mocked him, labeling him the "result of a curse." These hurtful words cut deep, prompting Peter to confide in his parents. His father, a pillar of encouragement, reassured him by always reminding him that he is very precious. “They are just worried that you are better than them.” He would constantly remind him.  Fueled by the bullying that Peter was experiencing at school, his father took proactive steps to advocate for Peter's rights at school in a bid to make his school life sort of seamless.

A picture of Peter Ogik and his parents

On the other hand, in an attempt to foster acceptance, Peter resorted to giving away his breakfast money and provided assistance to struggling classmates. Despite facing financial hardships and the need to walk 12 kilometers to school every single day, his academic excellence shone through. Weekends and holidays became dedicated to fishing, a means to fund his education, despite the harsh sun that posed challenges to his skin. Peter's determination was evident even during times of financial scarcity, with days of only one meal and struggles to afford education materials. Throughout his journey, he consistently surpassed expectations, reminding himself never to give up.

While financial constraints loomed, Peter navigated his way through high school and eventually reached university. The once sustainable fishing venture was abandoned due to constant sunburn, leading him to seek alternative employment. However, this path was fraught with challenges, with job applications often met with silence or blunt rejections, such as, "I can't give you a job; you'd scare my customers." Despite these setbacks, Peter's unwavering spirit and determination remained unbroken, a testament to his resilience in the face of adversity.

THE BEGINNING OF ALBINISM ADVOCACY ; THE SOURCE OF NILE UNION OF PERSONS WITH ALBINISM(SNUPA)

The idea of having a union for persons with albinism began in his university years when he, with the support of ADD International (Action on Disability and Development) and his friend Fazira Kawuma, gathered individuals with albinism in Busoga sub-region, Uganda, to have discussions around albinism. The conversations centered on the challenges they face as persons with albinism and strategies to overcome them. 

A picture of Peter Ogik creating awareness in Busoga, Uganda.

This birthed SNUPA (The Source of the Nile Union of Persons with Albinism) in October 2012. Ever since 2013, SNUPA has been working in Busoga, Uganda in partnership with Advantage Africa. SNUPA’s work is centered around economic empowerment, awareness raising, education, capacity building and health. SNUPA is guided by advocacy for human rights and access to quality services for people with albinism. In addition, the partnership of SNUPA and Advantage Africa is ensuring 400 people with albinism in the Busoga sub-region can protect themselves from skin cancer by receiving sunscreen, hats, protective clothing and timely dermatological checks. 

A picture of Peter Ogik outside his office

Through his personal experience of bullying, discriminination and exclusion from society simply because of having a lighter skin tone in comparison to the people around him, Peter Ogik now seeks to create a different environment and atmosphere for persons with albinism in Busoga, Uganda. Talk of doing better for the up-and-coming society and generation.