Ggaliwango Marvin

I am a machine learning and intelligent systems engineer based in Kampala, Uganda. I hold an MSc in Computer Science and Engineering from BRAC University, Bangladesh, and a BSc in Computer Science from Lira University. I also serve as the Chairperson for Staff with Disabilities at Makerere University.

My professional focus is on being both a creator and an advocate for AI-driven assistive technologies, which I develop using co-creation principles. I strongly believe in the privilege of involving users, particularly individuals with disabilities, in the custom design and development of technologies for themselves.

What are your aspirations once you have completed this course?

My primary aspiration is to become a national and regional leader in disability-inclusive policy, digital accessibility, and rights-based institutional reform. I aim to establish a Disability Inclusion and Policy Innovation Hub at Makerere University to support evidence-based planning and inclusive governance. Long-term, I want to be an expert advising governments, regional organisations, and development partners on disability policy and digital inclusion.

How do you envision you will apply the learnings from this programme to your professional or personal life?

I envision applying the knowledge gained from this program directly to my professional life by designing and implementing policies for disability inclusion across Uganda's health and higher education sectors.

The core application of the learning will be to formally strengthen my expertise in rights-based frameworks and policy. I will work with the Ministry of Education and the National Curriculum Development Centre to integrate inclusive design, assistive technology, and accessibility metrics into public university planning and teacher education. These actions are crucial steps in moving from being a technical creator to a rights-based systems innovator, ensuring that technological innovation is complemented by inclusive policy advocacy.

What made you want to apply to your course and to Leeds?

I applied to the MSc in Disability Studies, Rights, and Inclusion at the University of Leeds because, while my existing technical training as a machine learning engineer allowed me to lead research and build assistive technologies (AT) and tools, I recognised the critical need for formal academic and strategic training to effectively influence policy, scale impact, and support systemic reform. Leeds is recognised as one of the world's leading institutions in this field.

What is it that makes you passionate about your area of study?

My passion for the area of study is deeply rooted in my lived experience as a Ugandan with disabilities who successfully navigated a non-inclusive system, which fuels a determination to help others facing exclusion. What makes this field so compelling is my rare ability to integrate cutting-edge technical solutions, specifically machine learning and AI, with a deep understanding of human rights, inclusive pedagogy, and policy frameworks.

What do you think of your course so far?

I want to share my thoughts on the course so far, focusing on what I'm looking forward to and what is changing my perspective. I am particularly looking forward to gaining a solid foundation in global legal frameworks, especially the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). My goal is to learn how to effectively localise these global frameworks for national development plans and institutional reform within Uganda.

What would you say to anyone thinking of applying to your course?

If I were speaking to someone considering applying to the MSc in Disability Studies, Rights, and Inclusion, I would tell them that this course represents a transformative and strategic necessity—it is the ideal opportunity to bridge technical innovation with robust policy advocacy. It offers the formal academic training required to move beyond merely building tools and research, allowing you to transition into a rights-based systems innovator and policy leader.

What do you plan to do once you’ve finished your course? What are your career aspirations?

The course has changed my view of disability from an expectation to a reality. The knowledge and tools I have so far have empowered me to critically examine and contextualise transformative ways to operationalise locally co-created assistive technologies in Uganda.

This immediate benefit accelerates my aspiration to become a national and regional leader in disability-inclusive policy, digital accessibility, and rights-based institutional reform. My immediate plan is to launch the Disability Inclusion and Policy Innovation Hub at Makerere University to set a national standard for inclusion and a hub for co-creating assistive technologies in Uganda. 

What would you say are the main advantages of studying this course online?

The main advantage of studying this course online is the flexibility it offers, which allows me to effectively balance my education with ongoing work commitments. This flexibility is crucial given my responsibilities, such as serving as the Chairperson for Staff with Disabilities at Makerere University. The distance learning format ensures that I can build policy leadership capacity and continue my projects with Makerere University and national agencies while pursuing my studies.