This Zero Project Awardee demonstrates how participatory theatre empowers people with and without disabilities to address discrimination, heal trauma, and build stronger, more inclusive communities.
Since 2018, Northern Uganda Hip Hop Culture (NUHC) has been using forum theatre to create inclusive spaces where people with and without disabilities come together to address the ongoing consequences of conflict, discrimination, and social exclusion. Through performances rooted in real-life experiences, the community is invited not only to watch but also to participate. In this way, theatre becomes a powerful tool for dialogue, healing, and social change.
At the heart of the program is the conviction that those most affected by exclusion should lead the dialogue. The plays are written by people with disabilities and reflect the challenges they face in everyday life – including the denial of rights, land disputes, discrimination, divorce, and the lingering effects of war trauma. Performed by actors with and without disabilities – including landmine survivors – the productions encourage the audience to take to the stage, suggest alternative courses of action, and collaboratively explore practical solutions.
Beyond simply raising awareness, forum theatre strengthens self-confidence, leadership skills, and participation in social life. By creating opportunities for collaborative problem-solving, the performances foster understanding between people with and without disabilities, while simultaneously strengthening empathy and mutual respect. Representatives from local authorities, community leaders, and decision-makers are regularly invited to the performances. This helps to raise awareness of the rights of people with disabilities and promote more inclusive frameworks and practices.
Between 2018 and 2021, approximately 1,000 community members participated in forum theatre performances in the Gulu, Amuru, Nwoya, Kitgum, and Pader regions. The initiative has also reached schools, inclusion celebrations, and other public events, demonstrating how inclusive art forms can spark meaningful dialogue in diverse settings. Supported by partnerships with organizations such as In Place of War and The Pollination Project, as well as NUHC's own Hip-Hop Agribusiness project, the model has proven highly adaptable. Beyond the inclusion of people with disabilities, forum theatre has also been used to address topics such as girls' education and public health awareness campaigns (including COVID-19 vaccinations). By empowering people to share their own stories and collaboratively develop new perspectives, Northern Uganda Hip Hop Culture demonstrates how inclusive theatre can build resilience, restore dignity, and strengthen communities on their path to recovery from conflict.