We were lucky to catch up with Uzuri Malaika recently and have shared our conversation below.

Uzuri, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

It’s 2025, and too many people still don’t have access to a full thriving quality of life.
This reality burdens me deeply. . . because I know it doesn’t have to be this way.

When things are not clear, who does it really affect?

Every inaccessible entrance, lack of ramps, every confusing system, every dismissive glance from a service provider, these aren’t abstract issues to me. They are mine and other peoples reality. I know that real change starts when those most affected lead the way. Thats a heavy responsibility. Many of us have compassion, strength, and insight that give us a unique perspective and drive to advocate for transformation that is both practical and just. But many are tired.

The mission is meaningful to me because we desperately need CHANGE…. more spaces where we can safely tell and rewire our stories, feel no shame around our experiences and express authentically how we feel. More importantly many of us do not have resources to help us to thrive in a way that brings fulfilment.

You see, I’m from a continent that has given so much to the world, not just technology.
From my eye view and many others, we believe society should be much further along regarding accessibility and equity. A lot of things have and are being mishandled, that includes human lives.

I’ve always felt things deeply about humanity, about injustice, about the way the world treats our most vulnerable. That sensitivity comes from pain I’ve lived and pain I’ve witnessed. It’s also where my passion continues to live despite the ongoing struggles our communities are currently navigating.
EVERYTHING IS CONNECTED in this great circle of life.
Theres meaning to our lives and sometimes we lose sight of that especially in a world that doesn’t see us or tells us we have no value if we arent productive.to society.

Whether it’s trying to get on a bus, access to education, or even entering a public building, what should be simple becomes an exhausting battle. Seeing people being forced to endure the same struggles, I decided to try turn my frustration into action, not just for myself, but for all those who are marginalised, ignored, and excluded.

I have felt so overwhelmed by everything around me way before my own health situation.

CLARITY is taking some time to set up and launch, but i know its a prime example of what it looks like in real time and what it truly takes when you are disabled yourself trying to build a platform with very few resources.
Those who have not got access or certain abilities to manage big projects such as this, shows that not everyone is able to deliver in a particular way. the journey is a long determine one.

I want to challenge the systems & companies that hold us back, hold them accountable and offer community connections where isolation has become so normal for some. Sign posting and highlighting platforms that are specifically dealing with a variety of disabilities can help connect the dots for others who need support.

Empowering disabled, Elderly, chronically ill, and neurodivergent individuals through visibility, storytelling, and advocacy.
I pray our mission is to dismantle harmful stereotypes, amplify marginalised voices, and collaborate with others and honour their full expressions.

Accountability needs to happen, concerns on whats not been handled properly is also a main objective. When organisations/ companies realise they have to give the balance back to the individuals affected i believe in numbers we can create a huge shift i how we are treated. They dont want to lose money so we hope theyll have more eyes on them to do things right.

It shouldn’t be on us, the most vulnerable to fix the world on our own. But here we are. And still, I believe in the power and impact we all carry. We are all so uniquely made, and that means there are infinite solutions waiting to be created.

for example, within my own life, I decided to share more of my inner world. I used my phone to document my journey navigating health challenges and reframing what it means to live creatively throughv trauma. I wanted to show accessible ways to present sensory experiences through visual storytelling.

I asked the question: How can photography and movement assist in grounding and self-regulation?

What was once considered “crazy” or “unclear” was, in reality, me trying to rewire my mind and body in real-time, as I struggled with unmanageable pain and no medication.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Hi there, my name is Uzuri, also known as MK, Malaika, Elizabeth, or Lizzy.
I’m a multi-creative Ugandan Disabled Diaspora living in London, navigating multiple disabilities. I was born in 1988, and moved to London in 1990.

At the moment, I’m experiencing some regression in my ability to communicate and express myself, especially with words. I appreciate your patience in following along with our story.
I hope you’re able to accessibly stay on track with me… ;-)

I’m the first-born in my family, an advocate, a Godmother, and a passionate believer in harmony on Earth, even amidst the complexities of technology.

I was born two months before December 1st, the date the United Nations declared HIV & AIDS an epidemic. This event shaped my life and my work, as I’ve lived through the realities of both health struggles and societal stigmas.
This is key to how i came to start what i do now and why.

I grew up with a unique combination of experiences. As a young person, I moved back and forth between Uganda and London, eventually returning to London for secondary school. It was at the age of 16 during my GCSE exams that I learned about my HIV status, which had gone undetected since childhood. I contracted HIV at the age of 10 in West London, due to neglect and exposure to someone with TB. Yet, despite this, many in the health and social care industry wrongly assumed I acquired HIV in Africa, which fuelled my passion for raising awareness around HIV and its many realities and myths.

Through the years, I took on many roles throughout different industries, from professional football and dancing, to working in various retail spaces like Legoland, Ascot, Care homes and youth work with UNICEF and later working with a collective of writers who had a variety of disabilities.
From young being immersed in movement and creativity (grass roots soccer included and outreach) it exposed me to people from different countries and backgrounds. I actually enjoyed it all. minus the stigma of course.

But a key turning point came when I joined a community church. When my health began to deteriorate, I hid it well. Many didn’t believe how unwell I truly was. At one point, I lost over 15 close friends before the age of 26. Grief took a different toll on me.
I also held ableist views around my own situation and thought i could manage, yet i was struggling with admitting my body and mind was changing. I lost many of that community in the space of a week after a a series of seizures and breakdowns. Despite these struggles, I loved encouraging others and reminding them to keep going. I believed that people needed encouragement, and deep down, I wanted to make sure no one felt that kind of heaviness alone or left behind,

I started as a member and a mentor for other people who were also living with HIV, through a charity called Body and soul. We later created beautiful projects such as LIFE IN MY SHOES, a campaign and short film.

Through my own creative work, I found a path of healing. Ghostwriting became a release for me, this allowied me to stay behind the scenes, channeling my creativity into something freeing. My creative journey became a safe space for me to flow and heal, working alongside others with similar life experiences.

During this time and onward, I had no idea i was also living a very masked neurodiverse life. It’s only in recent years that I’ve learned I’m on the autistic spectrum and have ADHD, along with nerve damage, scoliosis, dissociation, and complex PTSD and so much more. These challenges made my 12 years of education very difficult if i may add. I never got to complete any of my studies. i know “failure” its not pleasant in that regard.
The closest i got to a qualification was my British Sign Language Level 2, barely. I had also had to drop out of Psychology in university. i say all that to say i learned that I’m able to see when others are overloaded and encourage them to find clarity around their goals while respecting their own capacity.

Survival mode looks different to us all after all. I wore many masks and lived many lives.

I believe what sets me apart is my ability to blend creativity, vulnerability, advocacy, and healing. I don’t just speak about these issues; I live them. My work is rooted in the experiences others have shared and my own.
I am using my creativity to make complex issues more accessible and engaging. My desire for CLAR!TY lies in breaking down the barriers that prevent people from fully experiencing life… The next steps are getiing assistance in formulating the content ive captured over the years in an accessible way, advocating for more inclusive policies, and providing a platform for voices that are often unheard off social media. Especially those who have difficulty navigating online spaces.

On an Elemental level, theres so much to share and this is just a snippet.

Who I am isn’t just about me. . . it’s an interconnected story that links the many lives, timelines, and experiences.

What started as a inside out joke later became an in-depth exploration of my life and the patterns others noticed along the way. Ghost writing was a huge release, away from the limelight, feeling free to be me and flow in a way that was healing and creative. The writers room had nothing on all our collective and parallel lives.
Some call me Soul 22, or CASE STUDY 88.

That is how many govening bodies see us… A file, a mysterious case study that doesn’t make sense. An opportunity to misdiagnose ot fall through the system.

Through my own experiences I am working to create CLAR!TY… a platform hub for those who are often unheard, overlooked, and forgotten. Giving back the Autonomy and voice to our real lives. Breaking down the stigma and discrimination should be something of the past. Sadly visibility comes at a cost for some. But we are pushing through.

Most of my disabilities are unseen, and as an ambulatory wheelchair user and being hiv positive, I’ve experienced first-hand how people often focus on the label and fail to see you as a person beyond it. Mental health challenges further complicate how I show up online. I’m mindful of how much of myself I share to protect both others and myself.

Safely navigating how we can share our experiences through different mediums is so important.

I’m committed to offering a more mindful, sensitive, and accessible way of telling our stories. It’s a process, but I believe in it.

CLARITY exists to shine a light on the daily injustices faced by disabled and elderly people. We believe no one should be left behind, forgotten, or forced to fight for their basics needs.
Through advocacy, education, and action, we hope to break down barriers and build a future that includes everyone… with dignity, compassion, non judgemental approaches, and creative healing that suits them individually.

The disabled community is growing and the world is not as as ready as it needs to be. We can do something about this.

CLAR!TY
Our mission is to highlight and address all the daily injustices faced by disabled and elderly people. Let us be the ones that get to decide how we should live fully. We want to aim to build a future that includes everyone.

Through creative healing, we recognise that each person’s journey is unique, and we focus on solutions that cater to individual needs, that can only happen with other beautiful soul contributions

Right now the part of clarity we have been working on is reviewing accessibility in every part of life, this includes services (not limited to healthcare & transport), products, Government/Councils and so much more.

Many people feel they want to express the injustices and don’t always want to take it to social media.

this is where i have been trying to document what i can and others have shared with me their submissions. now the hope is to find people who can help us formulate it in a way that makes sense to others clearly.

What I want potential community members/ followers, and fans to know is this: Clar!ty is more than just a community it’s a movement. It’s a platform that is built on the belief that everyone deserves to be seen, heard, and respected, regardless of their challenges. I’m committed to making sure that the voices of disabled and marginalised people are heard in ways that honour their experiences. And truthfully its been difficult to figure out how to do that safely..

Despite the struggles I face in expressing myself at times, I remain steadfast in my mission to create a more inclusive, compassionate world where everyone can thrive. I’m most proud of how far I’ve come, how much I’ve learned, and the impact I’m making in helping others realise that their stories matter online and offline.

I hope this is the year where i can launch officially. The website is still a work in progress.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Everyday is an act of resilience when you are in a world that often reminds you that you are not fully seen.

One of the most testing and prolonged times in my life was when my health started deteriorating in 2015. I was struggling with medication adherence and being misdiagnosed with other conditions, with very little help navigating the changes (this is still happening).
The major drastic change happened after a car accident in 2017, i then became homeless 4 months after.
This was excruciating because i was seeking so much support before the accident actually happened. It was as if i was watching my self slowly slip away from reality and could sense i may not be here anymore. I was in an apartment that was no longer suitable for me and was deemed unsafe by both doctors, ambulance teams and also the social services. The housing association was well aware of all my disabilities at the time and put me through so much red tape and lost many of my files in the space of 3 years. Sadly the inevitable and avoidable accidents continued to happen. You would think that after the car accident there would be support. It got worse. I ended up in hospital and thereafter a hospice for further treatment. From there it was a detrimental battle just like most people experience. I experienced paralysis, loss of memory, and so much more.

I found out that i was not only being discriminated against for my health conditions (HIV+) but also not being believed about other traumatic experiences that took place in my home prior to me asking for a transfer in 2013. It took a long while to get support with medications and appointments. Till this day i have never received proper physiotherapy. So you can imagine the added layers of pain that one had to endure whilst moving in and out of spaces that were not safe. Thankfully i was able to stay with different people on and off. This however added pressure and increased incidences of seizures and other health concerns created so much stress for my friends and eventually i had to keep moving. This impacted my social connections and friendships. I reached a point that i know many can relate with. I had honestly felt that i was at the end of my rope with very little support and not knowing what else to do. I struggled using the phone of all things. A tool needed for safety which opened me up to a lot of stressful circumstances.

I started paying attention to how my body needed to release and why. I noticed ever since i was young i had always kept moving through pain regardless of the abuses i endured. i started to connect the dots further and realised being in survival mode for so long also led to a burn out i didn’t even know could exist. I decided to restarted my LOGS. this was a way to journal creatively for myself and share mental health moments of transparency and awareness. I opened up about living with Dissociative Identities. I showcased how i want to positively remember things and what i would love to create for a variety of disabilities and also how do we assist the elderly.
Long story short, It was scattered, un organised but therapeutic for me to do, even when i didn’t share publicly. I started writing snippets of a book i long left behind. i was often told becaus eof how much i had gone through since i child i should write one. I was more interested in being there for others that i didn’t see how my story would make much of a difference.

I just knew Everyone always knew me as the strong person that always bounces back and encourages others through their own painful journey. i didn’t stop to think much about myself. So When i had to cry out for help, the services ignored me, made me feel invisible i started to believe i wasn’t worth much anymore.

The three words that kept coming up for me during this period were PRESSURE, BALANCE, CLARITY.
Fast forward to 2020, i was still here pushing through, calling the crisis lines when it got too much, but masking so much and somehow able to hold space for others too. Survival puts our body in a space where we surprise ourselves with how much we actually hold in.

My faith was wavering but something kept telling me i cant give up now, this cant be all in vain and i was overwhelmed with just how much others experience such injustices. I promised my self that no matter how long it takes me i want to keep holding on and find new ways to rewire our experiences and support the communities around me.

I started looking into Somatic movement, Calming frequencies, delved more into my photography and poetry as a way to release and stay present. I found a community on clubhouse for other individuals struggling and navigating new diagnosis’.
What really helped was also the younger teens i used to mentor in the past who had same conditions as me, they checked on me and shared all the good news about their lives and the words and moments we shared. i had no idea just how much impact i had on them, because their impact on me was also huge. It was authentic connections and melodic vibrations that kept me going too. Music & movies really played a huge role in how i stayed connected with many people i met and the industry contributions that i had long forgotten about.

I honestly started thinking it was all in my head…. Being reminded that it wasn’t, brought pieces of myself back. i then was able to focus more on the love and energy i’ve given and also been blessed to experience too. I want to make sure that everyone i encounter experiences a joy and light about themselves. Tapping into safe resources when available has helped me stay grounded and hopeful for whats to come. Encouraging myself and others to do what they love is so important

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Which Story to pick, there are far too many. I feel like living daily is a constant Pivot in an inaccessible world.

what popped in my mind regarding career, is when i had to stop playing football professionally.
That took quite a hit and shift. I still held on as long as i could and did football coaching for under 13’s. i thought i had really failed after all the sacrifices i put my body though. Years later, after some injuries healed i was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. Which made more than enough sense since i was a previous athlete and had gone through quite alot of pain as a child. This career shift was one of the early pivots i had to take.

I’m also reminded of my inaccessible kitchen and home adaptations i m still navigating daily. after complaints and meetings nothing has been done yet. when i think about pivoting i think about Adapting. Sometimes we are catapulted into such scenarios and it takes a lot from you. It took me 2 years to write a thorough complaint, searching for legal representation that legal aid covers. Constantly repeating the story over and over. There is personal history regarding kitchens and doors and so this required constant rewiring of flashbacks, associating items safely and remembering basic safety in the home.

Then Transport which these days i’ve been trying to use. that really forces you to pivot. The emotions, anxiety, visibility and losing parts of your voice can really exasperate someones experience and recently ive found that ive had to rely on kind strangers for assistance. Not only do you have to change routes suddenly but the pressure to express your needs if alone often puts me in a fight flight mode. Sometimes switching into a protective part of myself isn’t always reliable and can be unsafe sometimes. its in these moments I am reminded just how much the disabled community are left vulnerable and isolated if we don’t perform in particular ways. Failure & Rejection comes and i have always known theres much to learn from them too. Changes can be made and thats ok as long as our intentions remain on course with what we want to achieve

Coming from the various careers and experiences i’ve previously had, I would say the time is now where i have found myself pivoting more these past couple of Years.
Starting CLAR!TY from scratch has and is still such a new place to navigate while still in recovery.

Although there are still various barriers/issues which impact me and others daily in how we execute & articulate particular things, its the will in continuing to keep the dream alive that inspires us to keep going.

In many ways we welcome the challenge because i know how meaningful the purpose behind it all is.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://claritylogs.godaddysites.com/#993f6430-1a8b-4792-beda-b382e66797ac
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/partsofmeiii/
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/yIYIknp6Z-0?si=G6qjdQYcAcx_xBol
• Other: Hi there, i hope its alright to add my personal instagram as i’m still seeking assistance with our social media platform.

  The website is currently needing some extra tuning. Hoping to get more support around this soon. Added the link of the short film Body and soul created that i was a part of and featured in as well. hope this enough for now.

  Thank you for reading.

Image Credits

MksLog