Subra Namugga was a normal child without any disabilities until two weeks ago when her whole world came crashing down around her.
The Primary Four pupil at Nabuyonga Primary School in Mbale District lost her right eye after a stick, which a teacher was using to cane another pupil, broke and hit the eye.
According to teachers at the school, their colleague was caning an unruly pupil in the compound under a mango tree as other pupils looked on when the incident happened.
Subra was taken to Benedictine Eye Clinic in Tororo where the damaged eye was removed by Dr Robert Mayeku.
Trauma
When the Daily Monitor visited Namugga’s home in Nsambya Cell, Doko Ward in Mbale Municipality, she was depressed, withdrawn, and uncommunicative.
Immediately she saw the writer walking into the compound with a camera, she rushed into the house and left her mother, Ms Barbra Namugga, outside.
The single mother said although it was unfortunate that her daughter was going to spend the rest of her life with only one eye, it was an accident that could have happened to anybody.
“I don’t want to speak to anybody, what happened has happened and it was an accident, I don’t know why people keep looking for us here,” the distraught Namugga said.
Ms Namugga’s neighbours alleged that she had been given some money for her daughter’s treatment and compensation by the school authorities and instructed not to speak to the media. The Daily Monitor could verify this claim.
The Nsambya Cell LCI chairperson, Mr Biral Yusuf, could not be reached for a comment as his phone was switched off because he was reportedly attending a meeting.
When the Daily Monitor visited Nabuyonga Primary School, Primary Four pupils identified the child who was being caned when the stick broke and hit Subra’s eye as Sarah Kataike.
Her best friend and desk mate Anna Nabusoba said they have not seen Subra ever since she was taken to Tororo hospital because she reportedly prefers to stay indoors at home.
Mr Robert Watasa, a teacher, said: “The cane he was using broke off and went straight into Namugga’s eye and as teachers we did not expect the eye to die because it was just an accident. We rushed the girl to the hospital and we were referred to Benedictine Eye hospital in Tororo.”
He said this was an accident that could have happened to anybody, adding: “But we were surprised that your paper reported contrary to what took place, we were disappointed.”
The head teacher, Mr John Wangwe, said the matter was being handled by the police and Mbale Municipal Council authorities. He declined to give a comment.
source Monitor
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