Land and Conflict: Shot Child loses sight

It started just like any other day and little Ponsiano Sewankambo woke up and headed to school. Little did he know that this would be a day to remember, for the rest of his life. Ssewankambo who stays with both his parents was in class at Kabyanga Memorial primary school when security forces swung into action as an eviction exercise happened in Kisaranda Village, Kitwala sub-county in Kiryandongo district. Police together with security operatives in layer were evicting all occupants on a piece of land that had been leased out to an agricultural company and the children ran for their dear lives. As Ponsiano ran, he was hit by a bullet on his left hand. Teargas was also used by police to disperse the crowds and this affected him. His father says his son was admitted at Kiryandongo where he was treated for the bullet wounds for a week but his sight was also damaged. “His eyes were damaged. They produce tears all the time, they turned red and he can’t see properly. I took him back to Kiryandongo hospital but we were referred to Mulago and am still looking for money to take him for further treatment” Mr Matovu told our reporter. Sewankambo is not the only victim in the Kiryandongo evictions. Over 2000 children no longer go to school because all schools in the area were demolished “We had over 14 schools but all were brought down. I personally had a school called Kabyanga memorial primary with over 230 pupils but this was also destroyed. Children no longer go to school because they can’t trek the distance to Kiryandongo town.” Mr William Katusiime, one of the former school headteachers said. In a visit to the area, our team observed the appalling state in which the children live with no toilets, water sources, hospital or schools. The executive director Witness-radio, Geoffrey Wokulira Ssebaggala says that over 2000 children are no longer attending school because the nearest school is 6 kilometres which many can’t trek every morning and evening. “This is very sad and we implore the government to find a solution to this problem. People should not be evicted violently because this affects even innocent people like children”. Mr Ssebaggala commented.