Disabled girl who was defiled seeks help to raise baby

The alleged perpetrator, who is believed to be in his mid-20s, immediately went on the run after learning that he was wanted by police.

Meantime, Nyapendi is part of more than ten dependants currently being looked after by her grandmother Francesca Ndira, following the death of her grandfather.

“I reported the matter to the LCs who gave us a letter and we proceeded to Budhaya police post. The suspect has since reportedly been seen sneaking in and out of the village,” Nyapendi said in an interview with this reporter.

Asked on the matter, Busoga East Police spokesperson Diana Nandaula pledged to work closely with her colleagues at Budhaya police post.

“I am going to follow-up this matter. However, when the suspect is next sighted, we should immediately be notified so that he is apprehended. The community has a right to take him to any police station as long as they don’t subject him to mob justice or confine him to their homes,” Nandaula added.

In May this year, Nyapendi delivered a baby boy at Nankoma Health Centre, Bugiri District, and spent two month at the facility, after which she was reunited with her grandmother.

“Her disability didn’t allow her to have a normal delivery. So, she remained at the facility with three caretakers for two months after which she returned to me. It is me feeding and dressing her and the child,” Ndira told Monitor .

According to Ndira, “Nyapendi was born normal but became disabled at the age of seven when she suffered from a mysterious disease which manifested as malaria.”

“She was even fetching water at the well but suddenly fell sick. I took her to hospital where she was put on intravenous medication. However, her condition deteriorated, and she became disabled,” Ndira explained.

By the time Nyapendi turned nine, she was being carried like a baby and currently, one of her hands and both legs are virtually dead, rendering her unable to carry anything.

Polio?

Ndira claims this was during the time Village Health Teams (VHTs) were making door-to-door visits to families urging immunization gainst polio.

But also, those days coincided with the activities of Ddini Nkalu, a cult which had gripped Budhaya Sub-county, opposed to all government programmes, including mass polio immunisation.

Dan Mulumba, the sub-county youth chairperson for Budhaya and Mayuge Town Council, says the cult originated from Namayingo District, which was still part of Bugiri District,

“…the cult then settled in 12 of the 17 villages that make up Budhaya Sub-County. As a religious cult, they resented modern technology, including immunisation and residual spraying of mosquitoes, and had made inroads in the vllages of Namatu, Kawologoma and Nsavu,” he explained.

Bugiri District Health Officer Dr Stephen Kiirya noted that he “isn’t aware of the cause of her disability.”

Now, Ndira says although the family’s demands are many, she wants to set up a stall at which she and Nyapendi can start selling Silver Fish (mukeene), among other items, in order to fend for the largely young dependants.

Additionally, Nyapendi specifically needs a wheelchair and caretaker to get her back on her feet.

Reach out to the defilement victim at 0704306555 or [email protected]