Earlier this year (2022) on February 8th, Richard Ssebuganda, a Makerere University student lost his fingers to a teargas canister explosion during the ‘open for all’ protests. To Richard, this was the start of a new life, one he would never at any one-point wish for – being disabled.
As Richard began to register medical progress at Mulago where he had been admitted, he registered mental health regression. Before we knew it, social media was awash with news of him wanting to end his life. I gave him (Richard) a call the following day and promised to visit him at his sick bed.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to fulfill my promise. I later received news as I accompanied some Makerere journalism students to SEE television, that Richard had escaped from Mulago hospital. As a journalist, I had to hasten the verification of this worrying news. I jumped onto a boda-boda headed for old Mulago surgical ward.
It wasn’t a movie. Richard Ssebuganda’s sick bed was empty and none was available to reveal his whereabouts. Not even the doctors, I was told they had gone to the theatre. Thankfully, Richard was later found. I hadn’t met him in person till of late (May 4th, four months after the incident) when I decided to pay him a visit at his room in Lumumba hall at Makerere University.
It’s a cool evening with a dark cloud hovering in the sky. I knock at his door and his deep voice is heard from inside telling me to get in. I find Richard calm on his bed wearing a maroon short and grey round vest, a fresh cut is vivid on his thigh. He tells me the doctor had to remove some flesh from the thigh to cover part of his fingers. He starts to pull up his vest to show me another on his stomach.
We chat a little before he complains of the cold and grabs his long-sleeved checked shirt. He reveals that he is about to host some Christians in his room for prayers. We then decide to dialogue about his current state before the Christians come in.
How has the injury change your life?
My life is now hospital based. I haven’t studied for a whole semester. My thigh has been cut of recent (looks at his left thigh) and I couldn’t go anywhere. What I need now is medication.
Do you intend to continue with your course after medication?
I have to think of other specialties. Those that don’t involve a lot of physicality. My course (he sighs). Hope of continuing with my course is there if I get prosthetic fingers. The cheapest can go for approximately 50 million. If I get those, I can continue.
Have you been in position to do exams with help of an aid at least?
Exams! I haven’t done exams. I haven’t been in class. I wanted to finish my course, do another and perhaps grab a masters too.
Who is footing your medical bills?
At first it was my dad. I have been to Mulago. Every citizen there is entitled to free medication. The challenge is always with the theatre requirements that the hospital isn’t able to provide. These requirements are costly. Each operation can take at least one million.
How are you managing the situation, mentally?
Mental health arises when the pain is too much. You have to stay strong. I have some counsellors here at Makerere and from government; I appreciate them.
Richard Ssebuganda had his dream of becoming a bio-medical doctor cut short following the injury he sustained during the Makerere University ‘open for all’ protests. Richard now believes that the only savior is him attaining prosthetic fingers which he says are very costly. Richard is now calling upon all well wishers to help him raise 50 million to have prosthetic fingers so he continues to pursue his dreams.
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