Defiled girl reunites with family in Arua

 

The story of a five-year-old girl who was allegedly defiled by her step-father on June 13, drew sympathy from New  Vision readers, bringing hope after 39 days.

 

Last week, the girl reunited with her family in Arua. She was escorted by Saturday Vision, Vincent Miti Mbabali and Godfrey Kato representing many others who offered help. The journey from Mulago Hospital to Oluko sub-county, 12kms from Arua town, was a fulfilling adventure for us and the people who contributed towards the treatment of the girl and welfare of her family.

 

Language barrier could not deny us the experience of the warm welcome at the home of Goido Erema and Hellen Oguaru of Ayibiri village, parents of Annet Ayoru.

 

Ayoru, the mother of the defiled girl was at Mulago Hospital for one month nursing her daughter.

 

They expressed gratitude for the support rendered to their family.

 

What happened?

On June 13, in Lugazi, Ayoru says she had a misunderstanding with her husband, Moses Atidra, 22, which escalated into a fight, forcing her to flee for safety.

 

Ayoru, who is four months pregnant, says she fled to her neighbour with their two yearold child leaving, the five-yearold girl she had from another relationship sleeping. Ayoru returned to her house in the morning to find her daughter lying in a pool of blood unconscious. She rushed her to Kawolo Hospital but was referred to Mulago Hospital.

 

The girl had developed an enterovaginal fistula because the area between the vagina and the large intestine had been punctured forcing feaces to leak through the vagina.

 

The little girl had allegedly been defiled. Atidra, was arrested and remanded in Luzira Prison.

 

On June 27, Saturday Vision published the story, prompting good Samaritans to respond. Some of them went to Mulago Hospital to visit the girl.

 

Ayoru who had no bedsheets or food stuff, received monetary, psychosocial and material support from individuals and organisations like Caring Hands Foundation Ltd, Lake Bounty, Raising Voices, Centre for Domestic Violence Prevention (CEDOVIP), UBOS employees, ENHAS employees, Dr. Diana Atwine and Natasha Karugire. Dr. Haruna Mwanje said the girl had sustained internal tear, the vaginal wall and rectum was torn.

 

“She was successfully repaired and we expect complete recovery in six weeks,” he said. Dr. Atwine, during her visit to Mulago Hospital, expressed concern about sensitising the community on managing traumatised people like Ayoru.

 

“The future of the girl is bleak. We need to restore hope in her family and we pray to the courts for justice,” she noted.

 

Ayoru’s plan for the future

The good Samaritans contributed household necessities, food and money to enable Ayoru take care of her children.

She thanked those who supported her, saying they had given her a new life.

 

“I will fry chapati, cassava and pancakes and serve tea to the youth in the trading centre,” she said.

 

Ayoru’s father expressed bitterness over the incident, saying they heard the sad news but could not travel due to financial constraints.

 

From the money collected by good Samaritans, Erema’s shop rent was paid for three months.