If you have ever heard the phrase, ‘knows abit of everything’, Barbara Joyce Abang, our guest today is the reincarnation of this ancient inscription of humanity. As much as she is well educated, she digs into several fields with the finesse of a circus performer. The only difference with Barbara Joyce Abang us that her ring is in courtrooms, government offices, and the pages of her own book. Before we go too far, please go and read her latest book Be Kind To Your Mind which deeply inspired me about mental health.
A seasoned lawyer, mental health advocate, and self-taught author, Barbara’s story is one of resilience, grit, and a relentless pursuit of justice, both in law and in life. I recently had the privilege of sitting down with her—or rather, poring over her candid, sprawling transcription—to uncover the layers of a woman who’s as much a jack-of-all-trades as she is a master of many.
Who is Barbara Joyce Abang? | From Lango to Law
Barbara Joyce Abang is a Ugandan professional lawyer whose career spans over 18 years. She is also mental health advocate, and author. She was born in 1979 in Nairobi to parents from Uganda’s Lango region in Oyam district, she grew up navigating the shifting tides of the 1980s, starting at Bucha Primary School before excelling at Nabisunsa Girls’ School and earning an upper-second-class Bachelor of Laws from Makerere University.
A mainstay at the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, she’s shaped major initiatives like the crude oil pipeline negotiations and IGAD treaty, blending legal expertise with a passion for justice honed by her opposition-leaning upbringing. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder during her master’s in International Commercial Law at the University of Birmingham, she transformed personal adversity into purpose with her 2024 book, Be Kind to Your Mind, a rallying cry for mental health awareness. A devout Christian and self-described “jack of all trades,” Barbara fuses resilience, activism, and a commitment to equity into a career that’s as inspiring as it is impactful.
What was her early childhood like?
Born in 1979 in Nairobi, Kenya, to Ugandan parents from the Lango region’s Oyam district, Barbara’s arrival into the world was dramatic—she lacks a birth certificate due to a clerical hiccup. “Here I am, a Ugandan born in Uganda,” she quips, embracing her Generation X identity with a chuckle, distancing herself from both millennial quirks and the “walked-to-school-uphill-both-ways” tales of her parents’ generation.
Her academic path began at Buganda Road Primary School in the 1980s, a time when Uganda was navigating the rise of President Museveni. From 1986 to 1992, she laid her foundations there before moving to a business-focused secondary school—Nabisunsa Girls’ School—from 1993 to 1999, where her love for writing bloomed. “I started writing novels and boons for my classmates in a 96-page book,” she recalls, her early fantasies of romance sparking a lifelong passion for the pen.
Law, however, beckoned as her calling. After earning an upper-second-class Bachelor of Laws from Makerere University, she sharpened her skills at the Law Development Centre (LDC). But Barbara wasn’t content with stopping there. She pursued a master’s in International Commercial Law at the University of Birmingham, graduating despite a life-altering bipolar disorder diagnosis during her studies. “It was done under a lot of hardship,” she admits, her voice a mix of pride and relief. “I got sick when I was doing my Masters, and it was quite a hooray for me to complete on time.”
Her education didn’t end with degrees. Barbara amassed a treasure trove of short courses—project management in Australia and Pretoria via the Australia Awards, international mediation and arbitration at the International Law Institute in Washington, oil and gas training, and even a leadership stint at Worship Harvest (albeit incomplete). “I’m a jack of all trades in a good way,” she declares, crediting her multi-skilled background to nearly two decades in government service at the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.
What is special about the Legal Career of Barbara Joyce Abang?
Barbara’s 18-year legal career is a tapestry of high-stakes projects and advocacy. From negotiating the IGAD treaty to playing a pivotal role in the crude oil pipeline memorandum with Tanzania, her fingerprints are on Uganda’s legal and infrastructural landscape. “I was part of the team that handled the crude oil pipeline from initial negotiations up to Tanga,” she says, her tone reflecting the weight of such endeavors.
Her achievements extend beyond the courtroom. She secured 100 million shillings in annual funding from the Justice, Law, and Order Sector for procurement sensitization—a feat she’s proud of, even if she wryly notes, “Whether or not they use it is really up to them.” Her work with the East African Community and Commonwealth parliamentary projects exposed her to digital innovation and NGO facilitation, broadening her expertise in ways she hadn’t anticipated.
Yet, her career hasn’t been without turbulence. Barbara faced workplace discrimination due to her bipolar disorder and chronic health conditions, a battle that culminated in a 2024 lawsuit against her employers. “My issue with the workplace has always been about availability,” she explains. “I felt it was discrimination against me for having an illness and a disability.” Her fight for a psychologically safe workspace isn’t just personal—it’s a cornerstone of her activism.
Be Kind to Your Mind: A Book Born of Pain and Purpose
In July 2024, Barbara launched her first book, Be Kind to Your Mind, a raw and relatable exploration of her mental health journey. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder while studying in the UK, she endured repeated episodes until finding effective care at Nakasero Hospital. “Most doctors didn’t seem to know what they were doing,” she says of her early struggles in Uganda. “Until I met the one doctor, Musisi, who managed the condition really well.”
The book, launched with 30 attendees who paid 100,000 shillings each and snapped up copies at the same price, is more than a memoir—it’s a manifesto. “It’s a gift I give back to my community,” Barbara asserts, aiming to provide “a walking stick of awareness” from diagnosis to recovery. It tackles grief—her father’s death from lung cancer hit hard—relationships strained by mood swings, and the stigma she’s determined to dismantle. “I don’t like the use of ‘mad’ or ‘insane,’” she insists. “These are stigmatizing words.”
Her advocacy doesn’t stop at the page. Barbara calls for decentralized mental health services, better diets at facilities like Butabika Hospital (“It’s not Luzira prison!”), and community outreach. Citing the 2014 census—where 14% of Ugandans with disabilities had mental health conditions and 43% went untreated—she urges experts to bridge the awareness gap. “Survivors without funding cannot fill this gap,” she warns, her frustration palpable.
The Activist Within: Speaking Up and Standing Out
Barbara’s activism predates her mental health work. Raised in an opposition-leaning family, she’s always been vocal against injustice. “I really get sad when I notice any kind of injustice,” she says, a sentiment that fueled her legal ambitions. At work, she’s the “go-to girl” who confronts bosses on behalf of colleagues. “I’m the one who tells them when they’re hurting us,” she laughs, embracing her role as the office rabble-rouser with a cause.
Her faith—she’s a devout Christian—anchors her. “I’m alive because of God,” she declares, crediting divine grace for surviving bipolar disorder and chronic illness. This spirituality infuses her writing and advocacy, blending self-love, therapy, and medication into a holistic approach to mental health.
A Life of Lessons and Laughter
Barbara’s not all serious briefs and somber stats. She’s got a playful side—self-describing as a “happy girl” who’s “called myself blessed” for her opportunities. Her humor shines when she muses about Ugandans buying Be Kind to Your Mind but not reading it. “I’ve not talked about any content in the book since the launch video,” she teases. “Read that book, Ghana! Resell it if you’re done!”
Her advice to aspiring lawyers? Don’t just aim for the courtroom. “There’s advocacy, policy, research—huge gaps in ICT and AI law,” she enthuses, proving the legal field’s as vast as her own resume. For mental health advocates, she sees gaps in sensitization and funding but remains hopeful. “We need experts, not just survivors,” she urges.
The Verdict: A Woman Unstoppable
Barbara Joyce Abang is a force—part lawyer, part preacher, part healer. Her story is a testament to turning personal trials into public triumphs, whether she’s drafting treaties, suing for workplace rights, or penning a book that’s as much a lifeline as it is literature. “Mental health matters, and you matter,” she says, a mantra that sums up her mission.
As our chat—or rather, her transcribed odyssey—wraps up, she leaves the door open for more. “Maybe in future, we can do a video together,” she suggests. Count me in, Barbara. For now, I’ll just say: here’s a woman who’s not just kind to her mind, but to ours too—one page, one case, one fight at a time.
