In a world where disabilities are often seen as limitations, it is not every day that we come across individuals who have managed to overcome their challenges and achieve their dreams.
Meet Miika Tusiime (AKA short legend), a year one Makerere University student who not only beats the odds to run an online radio station, but also employs fellow students from across different academic programmes.
Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s of Arts in Drama & Film at Uganda’s premier institution, Tusiime was born with a physical impairment that had a toll on the way he felt about himself as he grew up.
Growing up at about the age of 13, Tusiime says, he started to feel the impact of his condition on his life.
“Some people thought I was suffering from Polio of which I haven’t scientifically confirmed though my parents told me it was different case.”
Having lived with his condition for 23 years now, the effect of the experience is one that didn’t quite sit well with him saying: “I have been bullied before, what I dislike is when people stare at me and start whispering to each other, some laugh at me, and that makes me feel hated.”
However, Tusiime was determined not to let his disability define him. He found solace in informing the masses and public speech.
He was fascinated by the way radio presentations were made, the way the music would play seamlessly. It was then that he knew what he wanted to do with his life. He then developed passion about radio lifestyle.
With the available space in his room at Mitchell Hall of residence at Makerere, Tusiime took the step to launch his radio station online (to start with) where he has so far engaged fellow learners, some of whom are also with disabilities.
He ensured to create a safe and inclusive environment where people with disabilities could also feel comfortable.
Tusiime had a chat with Campus Bee;
Who is Tusiime Miika?
Miika Tusiime is a 23-year-old student at Makerere University, commonly known as short legend. I use that across social media and webpages attached to my works. I do Bachelor of Arts in drama & film.
I’m in my first year and I aspire to be one of the great people in media, so in relation to drama/film, I’m looking forward to specializing in electronic media like sound engineering, music production, radio production and I’m so much into electronic production.
What kind of disability do you have?
I’m physically handicapped, I use a wheel chair which I push myself somehow, and in some cases use a walking stick.
How did it feel growing up with this disability?
At first, I was not affected all that much as a kid, because I didn’t mind what people thought about me. Reaching the age of about 13, I started to feel the impact of the disability. I’ve been able to happily live with it. I don’t regret why I was born like this. And of course I’ve been bullied before, what I dislike is when people stare at me and start whispering to each other, some laugh at me, and that makes me feel hated.
But again, as someone who has studied with different kinds of people, I started getting to know people’s cultures and people’s behaviors so I got used to the situation the more I grew. Though the stigma hurts when you’re moving around and someone looks at me, owing to the fact that I’m physically handicapped and that psychologically tortures, but I’ve managed to live happily with my condition.
What inspired you to start the online radio?
Firstly, I’m an internet guy so whenever I’m on internet am always trying to explore some new things, and I’ve had this passion from primary school because I’ve been information prefect before and I’ve always been into informatics.
In my home area (Ntungamo), we don’t have competing radios, so I have an intention to start up a radio that will bring the kind of competition I would love to see there. You even find some radios don’t cover the whole district and beyond borders, so to me that doesn’t give out the quality that you would wish a radio to give out.
Secondly, I’ve observed some students from campus look for places for internship and you find that when they go to radios they’re closed out due to limited slots so I decided to come up with an online radio station to provide platform for students in performing arts & journalism courses to express their public speech abilities and to build their confidence in public speech.
I’m so much into radio presentation, and I had always wanted to do journalism but I was discouraged by some people due to the nature of my disability. I’ve generally been passionate about radio.
Any employees, describe the nature?
I started this radio in Mitchell Hall and so far I have 14 employees who are volunteering and about 60% of them are journalism students, and 20% of them have disability (I also wanted to create space for us to apply our speech abilities). The other 20% are students doing other courses
What are your most treasured programmes on your radio?
When I was designing a programme schedule, I felt that all the ones I created would be interesting and then there is a certain programme which someone could present and really be immersed into it. So I will pick the Campus Vibe show where we host campusers, they express themselves and they give out their views on the particular topics, and they also share their campus life experience. I also enjoy the Friday Mix known by many campusers as Ekinyanya-nyanya
Do you intend to take the radio to a bigger scale, how will you?
Of course I do, I intend to extend it if at all I get some support like sponsors to advertise with me, and I at least have source of income then I can go for licensing, obtain a frequency so I can have it offline as well. God willingly, I shall.
How do you benefit from this radio project?
I haven’t gained much from it because it’s still in its early stage and we’re still building the audience. On a weekly basis, statistics show we have 750 listeners. I believe with time I’m going to benefit from it when I eventually get advertisers.
What’s your advice to persons with disabilities out there?
Don’t let your disability become a failure to you, instead use that disability to prove to people that you have ability and prove to people that you can do something visible out of your disability. I encourage them to stick to their goals.
Any last words?
I know readers may need to know how to stream my online radio. They simply install zeno radio app, tap explore/search for Light FM Uganda or you can head over to google and search Light FM Uganda Makerere.
Tusiime’s story is one of perseverance and determination. Despite facing significant challenges, he was able to achieve his dream of running a radio station and providing opportunities for people within the community.
Also, it comes as reminder to readers out there that anything is possible if they believe in themselves and never give up on their dreams, the author inclusive.
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