Agaba: NTV programmer’s triumph over disability

Mr Lucas Gerald Agaba, a television programmer at NTV-Uganda, is also an events coordinator and a minister at St Stephen Church, Kisugu. His inspiring journey of resilience began in 2016 after a horrific car accident that irrevocably altered his life.

The accident, which caused his car to overturn multiple times, resulted in the loss of his right hand. Since then, Mr Agaba has undergone at least eight surgeries and considers himself blessed to be alive. 

Once right-handed, he had to adapt to using his left hand for daily tasks. Remarkably, he learned to write and perform basic functions, such as dressing up, in a short period.

However, he still faces challenges, such as buttoning his shirt, which requires patient assistance.

As if his journey wasn’t already difficult, a devastating incident occurred this February. Thieves attacked him, leaving him brutally beaten. His skull was fractured, and his left eye sustained severe injuries, damaging the retina and cornea from within. The injury led to the loss of sight in the eye.

Mr Agaba explains, “Right now, I'm only using one eye to see as I had to start using a prosthetic eye; something that I just insert to fill the space. When I'm going to sleep, I remove it and put it back in the morning. These incidents have tremendously changed my life as they have affected me physically, mentally, emotionally, and psychologically.”

Despite these overwhelming challenges, Mr Agaba has managed to keep depression at bay. He draws strength from self-motivation and the unwavering support of his family. 

As a single parent to his daughter, who was born in the same year as his accident, Mr Agaba strives to give her a fulfilling childhood. “My daughter doesn’t know that there are things I cannot do, and I wouldn’t want to rob her of the joy of being a child,” he shares. When unable to do certain things for her such as take her out, he relies on friends to step in, ensuring she never misses out.

At work, Mr Agaba has been fortunate to receive understanding and support from his supervisors. They eased him back into his role by assigning manageable tasks. His employer even provided transport during his recovery to make his life more comfortable. 

“On my end, I had to adjust to dealing with the pain. But honestly, one can never get accustomed to the pain, yet I had a lot of it from the loss of the arm and the eye,” he says.

Adapting to life with one eye has been another significant challenge. Thankfully, Mr Agaba has resumed driving, carefully balancing his car on the road despite limited vision. 

“I don’t want to cause an accident and blame it on the eyesight. That means that whatever I am doing, I need to do it perfectly,” he explains. At work, he has adjusted his equipment to minimise light sensitivity, but prolonged exposure still causes his eye to tear.

Reflecting on his journey, Mr Agaba acknowledges the highs and lows but remains anchored in his faith. He encourages others to be mindful of their words and actions toward people with disabilities. “You might make a simple joke about my hand, but that could make me feel uncomfortable,” he implores.

Through perseverance and the grace of God, Mr Agaba continues to navigate life with courage and determination, proving that resilience is a powerful force in overcoming life’s toughest trials.