At UMCAT school of journalism, in a room adjacent to the main gate, is where you will find ISABIRYE MULANI, 26, who has been visually impaired after a wrong drug was administered to him at one and a half years. Today, Mulani is not only a gospel artiste, but also a journalism and mass communication student at UMCAT, proving that disability is indeed not inability. He recently had a chat with Quick Talk. Where is Mulani from? Isabirye Mulani was born in Jinja in 2000 and raised in Kamuli. As you see, I’m visually impaired. My parents told me that catastrophe befell me when I was a year and a half. I caught measles, and was taken to hospital, where I was given quinine, which spoilt my eyes. They wanted to replace them, but even the veins which would connect the eyes to the system had been destroyed by the drug. I saw you walk around without assistance. How do you do that? If you get used to a place, you know it from this side to the other side. It’s all about mobility. You may not do it in one day or month, but with time. I’ve stayed here for four years. So, it gave me time to learn, slowly by slowly. How did your siblings treat you due to your condition? During the festive season back in Kamuli, my siblings didn’t want to go out with me. When my mother would pester them to go with me, they would say, “He is going to delay us.” It became a very difficult time for me. Only my mother loved me. At that time, she would walk with me till I got tired. As a child, it was traumatising because I didn’t find love from my siblings. Despite all that, what kept you motivated? I see things from a positive side. I use one philosophy, that one investor is better than 99 timewasters. So, I make sure I concentrate on those who cherish me, who treasure me, and leave the others who don’t believe in me. And I make sure I love myself, because I know before people love you, you must love yourself. Love attracts love [meanwhile, Mulani speaks really good English, with an accent]. How was your education? There is an organisation that took me on from childhood. It’s called Children of Grace, and it has supported my education since primary until now. I went to Spire Road Primary School [an inclusive school for both sighted and visually impaired pupils], then I went to Martin Nkoyoyo where I sat my PLE – also an inclusive school – and then for secondary I went to St Francis Madela School in Soroti, it is only for the blind. I then came to UMCAT for a certificate in Journalism which I completed in May and now I am studying for a diploma in the same field. Why Journalism? I decided to study Journalism just because I enjoyed music. I thought by me joining Journalism and Mass Communication, I would connect with the various media personnel to help me push my music. With Journalism, I have to sit in one place and communicate to the masses. But maybe, with courses like Education, you’re only talking to a limited audience. Does UMCAT have a unit for the visually impaired? Apparently, we are only two so far, but there’s no problem. They can accommodate us. Let’s talk about your music. How did it come about? As a child, I loved music. I had a voice, but I couldn’t write. My mother would support me so much because she loved my singing. My mother trained me so much. I would master other people’s songs, then sing them. But I didn’t know how to write. Till 2020, during the COVID 19 season, when God gave me a gift of writing songs. So, I composed many songs, but I did not get an opportunity to record any. So, what was your first recorded song? My first song was Kyakuwa, and it was supported by Joseph Mabonga, the manager of the organisation which pays my fees. That was still in 2020, but I almost lost my life while recording that song. What happened? So, the first day, I recorded the song and finished. But, according to the producer, the song was incomplete. He told me to go back home and add one bar to every verse. I went and accomplished the task, the next day when I was coming to the studio, I went for a ‘long call’. I told my sister not to wait for me, because I knew my way around the place. Little did I know that they had started digging a new pit latrine. I found myself in a 23-feet pit latrine. Luckily, I didn’t fall head first and there was no stagnated water. But the fall was enough to harm my left hand. I was pulled out of the pit, treated by Children of Grace, and the next day I went and accomplished my song, Kyakuwa. Sorry about that. How many songs do you have now? The second song is Mbiguni Kwanzaa, that was recorded and supported by Joseph Ngoma. Then the third song is called Bwolidda. That one I got an offer from Gospel Heartbeat. My fourth song was Nazuula, recorded in 2023. That one, actually, I’m the one who paid for it myself. Then, Akola was recorded in 2025. My recent release is Sitye. I have two videos which were financed by manager Jane the Chief. She’s based in Manchester, UK. You recently performed at Joseph Ngoma’s concert. Was it your first big stage? Actually, I performed at House of Prayer, then Victory Church, on Joseph Segawa’s concert, Joseph Ngoma’s concert. Yeah. God has helped me. I have been ministering on various big platforms. How has music changed your life? The little fame I’ve got, it is because of music. I’m the one who is taking care of my family back home, because my father is now old and unable to work. Had God not used music, I don’t know where I would be! I’m really indebted to God. Where do you see your music career ten years from now? I have plans of putting up my own studio. I’ve already even finished training a producer who will work in it. I also want to start a music band, so that we raise a very big army of God to serve Him in faith and openly in truth and spirit. Do you have plans for a concert? Yeah, I want to put up a concert when people really know who I am because at times people come to the concert not because they know the musician, but because they know those who have escorted him. So, I want people to come because of my songs; for my music. What message do you have for people with disability like you? Anybody with any impairment, trust God. He knows what you lost. So, He makes sure that He compensates you. He makes sure that at least He substitutes it with something else. I’m visually impaired. But surprisingly, I’m the one who is helping my family. And yet, in my family, I’m the only one with an impairment. All of them are fully able-bodied. So, God’s blessing is not about any physical qualification. devonssuubi@gmail.comThe post Mulani Isabirye is indeed the proverbial cornerstone appeared first on The Observer Media Ltd.