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Embracing Dreams
On the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, 2023. Tractus Art was thrilled to share our inaugural project, featuring three talented disabled artists and athletes in Uganda. Our mission is to amplify the experiences of individuals with disabilities, particularly within the African continent. Often, our voices go unheard.
Kalungi's Journey to Arts
Maureen Kalungi is an artist who mainly works with performance. By examining the ambiguity and origination via recaptures and variations, Kalungi tries to approach a wide scale of subjects in a multi- layered way, likes to involve the viewer in a way that is sometimes physical and believes in the idea of function following from in a work.
Her performances never show the complete structure. This results in the fact that the artist can easily imagine an own interpretation without being hindered by the historical reality. By creating a situation and breaking the passivity of the spectator, she tries to increase the dynamic between audience and author by objectifying emotions and investigating the duality that develops through different interpretations.
Her works are based on inspiring situations: visions that reflect a sensation of indisputability and serene contemplation, humoristic elements. With a conceptual approach, she wants the viewer to become part of the art as a kind of added component. Art is entertainment: to be able to touch the work, as well as
to interact with the work is important. Her works directly respond to the surrounding environment and uses everyday experiences from the artist as a starting point. Often these are framed instances that would go unnoticed in their original context. Maureen Kalungi currently lives and works in Kampala Uganda. Maureen kalungi studied a Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture and Rural Innovation at Makerere
University. However, this didn’t limit on using her talent to edu-tertain as well as advocating for inclusion of people with different abilities. Maureen’s talent developed after joining splash Dance Company in 2019. This was through an inclusive dance workshop she attended, which later on became her family to explore her talent. Maureen is good at contemporary and freestyle or improvisation dances. Through working with Splash Dance Company and Unseen dream dance festival, she has been
able to express her dance talent performing for different people and dignitaries of British council, Katikiro of Buganda at Bulange Mengo on Disability day, conducted workshops in different schools and CRANE VIVA.
Ultimately Maureen formed dance group for girls and women with different abilities called ‘Women of Power dance group.’ And through this group they were able to win five million shillings grant from KUONYESHA Art Fund in 2021. The fund was used to make a dance production titled limited-wings. Maureen is a Gender and Disability Inclusion Advocate who has manifested her work through working
with Disabled Women in Development (DIWODE), Kampala parents of children with disabilities Association Makindye (KAPCDAM) and being a team leader for UNAPD Youth Wing. And also she sits on Executive Committee of Uganda Paravolley Association as treasurer. Maureen is also interested in Para sports and also advocating for gender and disability inclusion in all spheres. She has represented women in Para sports in leadership workshop at Johannesburg SA and she was also a youth delegate at women’s Deliver Conference in Kigali Rwanda. The two events have given her opportunity to air out inclusion issues that need to be improvements. “If you can dream it, you can do it” by Walt Disney. This quote inspires me a lot to pursue whatever I
have dreamt of.
Her performances never show the complete structure. This results in the fact that the artist can easily imagine an own interpretation without being hindered by the historical reality. By creating a situation and breaking the passivity of the spectator, she tries to increase the dynamic between audience and author by objectifying emotions and investigating the duality that develops through different interpretations.
Her works are based on inspiring situations: visions that reflect a sensation of indisputability and serene contemplation, humoristic elements. With a conceptual approach, she wants the viewer to become part of the art as a kind of added component. Art is entertainment: to be able to touch the work, as well as
to interact with the work is important. Her works directly respond to the surrounding environment and uses everyday experiences from the artist as a starting point. Often these are framed instances that would go unnoticed in their original context. Maureen Kalungi currently lives and works in Kampala Uganda. Maureen kalungi studied a Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture and Rural Innovation at Makerere
University. However, this didn’t limit on using her talent to edu-tertain as well as advocating for inclusion of people with different abilities. Maureen’s talent developed after joining splash Dance Company in 2019. This was through an inclusive dance workshop she attended, which later on became her family to explore her talent. Maureen is good at contemporary and freestyle or improvisation dances. Through working with Splash Dance Company and Unseen dream dance festival, she has been
able to express her dance talent performing for different people and dignitaries of British council, Katikiro of Buganda at Bulange Mengo on Disability day, conducted workshops in different schools and CRANE VIVA.
Ultimately Maureen formed dance group for girls and women with different abilities called ‘Women of Power dance group.’ And through this group they were able to win five million shillings grant from KUONYESHA Art Fund in 2021. The fund was used to make a dance production titled limited-wings. Maureen is a Gender and Disability Inclusion Advocate who has manifested her work through working
with Disabled Women in Development (DIWODE), Kampala parents of children with disabilities Association Makindye (KAPCDAM) and being a team leader for UNAPD Youth Wing. And also she sits on Executive Committee of Uganda Paravolley Association as treasurer. Maureen is also interested in Para sports and also advocating for gender and disability inclusion in all spheres. She has represented women in Para sports in leadership workshop at Johannesburg SA and she was also a youth delegate at women’s Deliver Conference in Kigali Rwanda. The two events have given her opportunity to air out inclusion issues that need to be improvements. “If you can dream it, you can do it” by Walt Disney. This quote inspires me a lot to pursue whatever I
have dreamt of.
Abilities and Passion
Shafik Ssebuuma continues to pursue his dreams and passions, he has not allowed the loss of his leg to hinder Shafik from his journey as an amputee footballer. Shafik began loving football from at a young age. his determination to excel in the sport has made him a shining star in Uganda Beyond the football, Ssebuuma has participated in different dance projects in Uganda. During his free time, he enjoys doing welding and metal fabrication which he studied as a profession and while talking about his life, he says "I enjoy football because it completes me. Shafik continues to inspire others with his unwavering pursuit of his dreams.
Limelight - I'm not an attention seeker
Joan Nabasilye is a multi-talented individual whose passion for life has no borders. She is a proud female basketball player, her love for the game has not only made her an athlete but also an inspiration for aspiring players. Nabasilye is a dancer and currently works with Splash Dance Company, Joan loves to dance traditional dances and beyond her sports and dance passion, Joan has also explored the world of modeling and she graced the stage at the esteemed Miss & Mr. Ability fashion show. Joan is also an online women's activist. She uses her platform to advocate for women’s rights and equality and when asked about herself, Joan confidently declares, “I love my body”
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