WorldVitiligoMonth2024:Art,Dialogue,andNarrativeChangeinUganda
A landmark public convening at the British Council in Kampala, centering lived experience through dialogue and art.
As part of World Vitiligo Month 2024, Muundo Foundation contributed to a landmark public convening held at the British Council in Kampala, bringing together individuals living with vitiligo, healthcare professionals, cultural practitioners, media, and allies for a day of dialogue, learning, and cultural exchange.
The event was organised in partnership with Satisfashion UG, Serene Beauty, and the Vitiligo Association of Uganda, with the support of British Council Uganda. Together, partners created a space that moved beyond awareness toward shared understanding, dignity, and representation.
Centering Lived Experience Through Dialogue
At the heart of the event was a panel conversation featuring individuals living with vitiligo, including Cerinah Tugume, Eva Atukunda, and David Ogutu. The discussion foregrounded lived experience, addressing stigma, public misconceptions, and the everyday realities of navigating identity, visibility, and self-acceptance.
David Ogutu, a media personality and Vice President for Marketing at Xeno, shared reflections on confidence, public life, and the importance of refusing to be defined by a single aspect of one's identity. Across the conversation, panelists collectively challenged harmful myths and reframed vitiligo through narratives of agency, resilience, and self-definition.
Knowledge, Care, and Medical Insight
The event also created space for credible, accessible medical knowledge. Dr. Malik Ssempereza, dermatologist and founder of Unity Skin Clinic, shared insights into current research and treatment approaches for vitiligo, helping participants and guests distinguish fact from misinformation.
This contribution reinforced the importance of pairing cultural advocacy with accurate, science-based information, particularly in contexts where myths and stigma continue to circulate widely.
Art as Advocacy in Practice
Art played a central role in shaping the tone and impact of the event.
An exhibition by Martin Senkubuge - Muundo Foundation co-founder, artist, researcher, and curator - presented visual narratives that explored identity, visibility, and dignity. His work invited audiences to engage with vitiligo not as spectacle, but as lived reality shaped by social perception.
In parallel, artist Bright Ntakky created a live artistic impression during the event, visually interpreting everyday experiences of living with vitiligo. The live artwork transformed the space into a site of reflection and conversation, reinforcing art's role as a medium for collective understanding.
Beauty, Care, and Practical Empowerment
Cerinah Tugume, founder of Serene Beauty and a professional makeup artist with decades of lived experience with vitiligo, led a practical makeup and skincare session. The demonstration focused on vitiligo-specific techniques and self-care, offering participants tools to engage beauty practices on their own terms.
Public Engagement and Solidarity
The gathering welcomed members of the vitiligo community, allies, media representatives, and members of the public. An extended Q&A session allowed for open conversation, honest questions, and shared learning, reinforcing the event's inclusive and dialogic spirit.
The program concluded with remarks from H.E. Kate Airey, British High Commissioner to Uganda, who reaffirmed the UK government's commitment to inclusion and the importance of public platforms that foster understanding and respect for marginalised communities.
World Vitiligo Month as Narrative Intervention
Observed annually in June, World Vitiligo Month provides a global moment to reflect on the experiences of people living with vitiligo. For Muundo, it is not simply a date on the calendar, but an opportunity for intentional narrative intervention — bringing together art, dialogue, education, and partnership to shift how vitiligo is understood in public life.
This event forms part of Muundo's broader Art & Cultural Advocacy work, demonstrating how culture can be mobilised to challenge stigma, elevate lived experience, and build more inclusive public narratives.
Visual Narrative of WVM 2024