Two of the people, who were severely injured during recent attacks in Masaka are struggling with medical bills and are now appealing for support from the government and good Samaritans.
The patients are Tonny Lukyamuzi, 80, of Kyamuyimbwa village in Kimaanya–Kabonera division and David Ntale, 33, of Kasubi-Kigamba village in Masaka city. They were admitted to Masaka Regional Referral Hospital in critical condition following the attacks where they were asked to have a skull Computed Tomography (CT) scan to help health experts to detect brain injury, bleeding, and skull fractures.
Lukyamuzi’s caregiver Rose Nakyanzi says that the doctors examined the patient and advised her to go for a brain and skull scan because the hospital does not have one.
However, they are equally stuck due to a lack of money to pay for the scan, yet a health worker at the surgical ward explains that the doctors will depend on the scan report to determine the next procedure.
Brian Balikudembe, the administrator of Byansi Clinic says that a brain scan costs 295,000 Shillings. But Nakyanzi says she cannot afford the cost yet her patient was hacked several times on the head.
She further explains that most of the drugs prescribed for them have to be purchased from outside the hospital, where she says they are unaffordable for her. She adds that she has so far spent about 110,000 Shillings on drugs and some basic needs for her and the patient.
David Ntale, the other patient says that he equally needs financial support although the doctors are yet to prescribe medication for him.
Ntale says that apart from the injury on his head, his vision was affected and he is struggling to view objects clearly.
We have learnt that most of the survivors from Masaka city, Lwengo and Bukomansimbi districts were treated and discharged to heal from home due to limited space in the medical facilities. But Aloysius Kibira, the Kkingo LCIII Chairperson appealed to the government to intervene and support the survivors of the infamous attacks.
On Thursday night, the attackers killed Muhammad Mulindwa, a resident of Kisaaka village, Kibinge sub-county in Bukomansimbi district and left another resident Jimmy Ssemanda with multiple injuries on the head, back and chest.
Mulindwa’s death brings the number of murder victims to seven in one week and 27 in less than two months.
