Linetti Kirungi is as buoyant as many young ladies her age. The 29-year-old has through the years, endeared herself to many with her easy-going nature but at some point, her genial nature got her into trouble, with her university boyfriend.

Her now erstwhile boyfriend was the personification of insecurity. He never wanted Kirungi to have any male friends and when she took exception, he sternly warned her, even insinuating that he would harm her if she persisted.

True to his word, Kirungi was attacked with acid.  Her harrowing tale as will be expounded on later in this story, illuminates the dangers of letting just about anyone have free access to corrosive substances such as acid. 

In recent years, acid attacks have been on the rise in Uganda, the most recent being an attack on a Centenary Bank Manager.

Kirungi got attacked in 2012 whilst she was still pursuing her studies at Makerere University. By then, she was in her first year. By that time as well, she was in a relationship, which for the most part, was chequered.

Her relationship with her erstwhile boyfriend hit rock-bottom when he 
unequivocally suggested she puts her studies on hold so that they could get married.

Kirungi was indisposed to the suggestions and as you would expect of any emotionally immature boyfriend, he became angry and threatened her.

He thought her rejection of his proposal was a sign that she was two-timing him with another man. Kirungi, however, downplayed most of his threats, and unfortunately for her, she paid a heavy price. 

“On the fateful day of the attack, I was getting out of my hostel to go buy something at a nearby shop, when a man putting on a black jacket approached me from my blind side and poured acid on me. I was dazed and at first, I thought it was water that had been poured on me but it later dawned on me, that it was a corrosive substance. I writhed in pain, crying out loud but the people who came running did not help much. Many just stood by and watched,” she recounts.

It was only much later that a sympathetic boda boda man was able to rush Kirungi to Kiruddu hospital, where therapeutic first aid was administered on her, albeit with a lot of pain as pieces of flesh were taken off her body.

Kirungi was later admitted and as the days went by, she became overwhelmed with sad thoughts. At some point, she seriously contemplated suicide. 

“A nurse who saw the depressive state, I was in suggested she lets counselors talk to me but I was indisposed to the idea as all I saw was a bleak future.
The nurse went ahead without my consent and spoke to some counselors who came forth and spoke to me. They gave me good pep talk,”

“It was then, that the idea of being an advocate for acid attack survivors crossed my mind in earnest.”

At length, after being discharged from hospital, Kirungi decided she would go into full time advocacy for acid attack victims.

“I decided, I would go into advocacy for acid attack survivors as they often do not receive justice. A case in point is me. The persons who attacked me went off scot-free. I formed the Hope Cure and Rescue Centre as an enabler of that advocacy. Many people who are survivors of acid attacks have since come to the Centre for help. Some are victims of gender-based violence whilst others are victims of sour relationships.”

While many people hinge acid attacks to broken or failing love relationships or marriages, Kirungi notes that there are several other reasons in today’s topsy turvy society, which are pushing people to harm others with acid.

“Today, people have many bones of contention, such as the pervasive land disagreements in the country. People with dark hearts and evil intentions can do anything,” she says.

Kirungi in orange with a workmate at the Hope Cure and Rescue Centre .

Working to support acid attack survivors

Kirungi says she works to support survivors of acid attacks, most of whom are women. 

“Besides advocacy and moral support, the Hope Cure and Rescue Centre also skills acid attack survivors in tailoring and arts and crafts, and thus far, almost 124 survivors have gotten training. The centre also casts about for market for the items, the apprentices make, like for instance, baskets, bags, clothes and many more.” 

Kirungi who is slated to speak at UN Women event, commemorating 16 days of activism against gender-based violence is currently running a petition campaign, which is intended to prevail upon the government to do more to help acid attack victims.

“Uganda enacted the Toxic Chemicals Prohibition Control Act in 2016 but it is not enough. First off, the law unfairly grouped all chemicals including pesticides, fertilisers, tear gas and acids yet acid is more adverse, more ominous when somebody is attacked with it and besides it leaves one with permanent mental and physical scars.”

 “Also I think the perpetrators of acid attacks should be included in the category of offenders who, the President suggests should not get bail. The perpetrators are often given 8 years, which is lenient. In actual sense, it is 4 years because the prison system considers both day and night. More stringent punishments should be dished out to the perpetrators of these attacks as a deterrent.”

Kirungi also thinks proscriptions put on the sale of acid by the government would go a long way in ending the attacks.

“Besides that, the government should also put regional burn centre because there is currently only one centre in Kiruddu hospital. Female Parliamentarians should also augment their voices on tougher legal retributions against perpetrators of acid attack crimes.”