About one in 13,000 babies in the world are born albino. In Africa, the ratio is as high as one in 3,000 babies.
Discrimination against albinos is a serious problem throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. Many countries across Africa believe albinos have magical powers. They stand out, often the lone white face in a black crowd, a result of a genetic condition that impairs normal skin pigmentation.

East Africa is rife with superstitious beliefs. Witchdoctors build on this superstition for selfish gains. It is believed that the use of albino body parts in potions brings great wealth and therefore their body parts fetch a high price on the black market. While Uganda does not have the highest rate of albino murders, neighboring Tanzania has the world’s highest albino murder rate.

Apart from that people with albinism typically suffer from vision problems and the rate of skin cancer among albinos is high. In addition albinos in Africa have to endure persecution, social isolation, murder, human rights violations, denial of fair access to education, as well as to healthcare and employment.