I survived the blasts by a whisker
Jul 01, 2011
THEY kept time and got into the Kyadondo Rugby grounds before most fans. But when he looks back on the events that followed, Yusuf Kiganda casts a remorseful eye saying: “It was all for nothing.†Yet Kiganda believes he was lucky to have survived when all of his friends perished.
By Vique-Ocean Kahinju
THEY kept time and got into the Kyadondo Rugby grounds before most fans. But when he looks back on the events that followed, Yusuf Kiganda casts a remorseful eye saying: “It was all for nothing.†Yet Kiganda believes he was lucky to have survived when all of his friends perished.
The 24-year-old stationery dealer says he was seated in the front row when the blast went off. He says out of the six friends who were seated on the same row, he was the only one who survived.
His story
Since we had reached arrived early, we bought drinks and waited for the game to begin. The artistes entertained the revellers as we waited for the match.
The game started at about 9:35pm and my friends and I started debating who would take the trophy.
When the first half was over, Bebe Cool came onto the stage and entertained us. When he was done, the game resumed.
Since first half had ended with a draw, we kept on arguing and anticipating that this time the match would end in penalties.
We argued with our eyes glued onto the screen, then a bomb went off. The first blast scared me so much that I fell to the ground. I do not remember where my friends were at that moment.
As I tried to rise up and see what had happened, there was another blast and I fell down again, unaware of what was going on.
I lay unconscious and I was bleeding profusely, especially my head and ears. Bomb fragments struck my head and some hit my hands, making them numb.
The next day, I found myself in hospital with my head and hands bandaged and ears filled with cotton balls. My ears were oozing blood and other fluids.
My mother was worried. She feared I would die because blood was oozing out of my body.
I was surprised when she told me that when I regained consciousness at the hospital, the first thing I asked was who had won the world cup.
Up to now, I feel the pain in my ears, head and limbs. Doctors have advised me not to carry heavy loads or walk long distances because my body lost its balance.
Doctors told me I developed nervous disorders and a neurologist prescribed for me very expensive drugs that I have to take twice a month.
While at Mulago, I lay in bed staring blankly in space with ears blocked due to the effect of the horrible sound. However, I did not know my friends had died until I regained consciousness.
But when I saw people reading newspapers that had screaming headlines about terror attacks in Kampala and the pictures and names of the people who had died at Kyadondo Rugby Club, it downed on me that probably my friends could have died and I could also have been hit by a bomb.
I could hardly hear, thus it was not easy to find out clearly what people around me were saying. But I was very curious. I wanted to know the fate of my friends. I wanted to know whether they were dead or in the same condition I was.
In fact, I bugged my mum and elder sister and repeatedly told them to buy me newspapers so I could check out the names of the people I had seen listed as dead at Kyadondo.
My mother refused to provide me with newspapers because she knew my friends had died and did not want me to know.
I think she wanted to protect me from the trauma of learning about my friends’ death.
Tears rolled down my face each time I recalled the newspaper headlines talking about the blasts at Kyadondo. I worried and waited impatiently to get news about my friends in vain.
Fortunately, one day the doctors advised us to take a walk so we could relax our nerves and regain body balance. As we walked around, I passed by the mortuary and I saw a list of names written with a marker pinned on the wall.
It came to my mind that these must be bomb victims. I, therefore, drew closer and saw Brenda’s name among the dead.
I was shocked. I felt dizzy and terrified at the same time. And when I looked much closer, I saw other friends’ names. They were dead.
I was filled with regret. How had I survived when my friends perished, yet we were seated together?
And the fact that I did not have a chance to bury them saddened me more. Now I don’t like noisy places. Each time something bursts, like a car tyre, Kyadondo memories flood my mind.
Matters were made worse when I returned to work and I was very depressed, because it was the place where we often met for our youth club discussions. I am, however, grateful to Dr. Nakku of Case Clinic in Kampala who gave me free counselling. I can now work at my stationery shop with no stress.
I feel all alone. My friends’ tragic death sometimes haunts me. But I will always pray for their souls to rest in peace.
Kiganda moves on
Kiganda says he was so used to being in company of his peers and it was such a big blow to him to lose them. But he is thankful to God who saved him from the fangs of death.
He says sometimes he feels like being alone. My mother and my siblings are always by my side to make sure I am engaged in a conversation so that I don’t entertain bad thoughts about the tragedy.
THEY kept time and got into the Kyadondo Rugby grounds before most fans. But when he looks back on the events that followed, Yusuf Kiganda casts a remorseful eye saying: “It was all for nothing.†Yet Kiganda believes he was lucky to have survived when all of his friends perished.
The 24-year-old stationery dealer says he was seated in the front row when the blast went off. He says out of the six friends who were seated on the same row, he was the only one who survived.
His story
Since we had reached arrived early, we bought drinks and waited for the game to begin. The artistes entertained the revellers as we waited for the match.
The game started at about 9:35pm and my friends and I started debating who would take the trophy.
When the first half was over, Bebe Cool came onto the stage and entertained us. When he was done, the game resumed.
Since first half had ended with a draw, we kept on arguing and anticipating that this time the match would end in penalties.
We argued with our eyes glued onto the screen, then a bomb went off. The first blast scared me so much that I fell to the ground. I do not remember where my friends were at that moment.
As I tried to rise up and see what had happened, there was another blast and I fell down again, unaware of what was going on.
I lay unconscious and I was bleeding profusely, especially my head and ears. Bomb fragments struck my head and some hit my hands, making them numb.
The next day, I found myself in hospital with my head and hands bandaged and ears filled with cotton balls. My ears were oozing blood and other fluids.
My mother was worried. She feared I would die because blood was oozing out of my body.
I was surprised when she told me that when I regained consciousness at the hospital, the first thing I asked was who had won the world cup.
Up to now, I feel the pain in my ears, head and limbs. Doctors have advised me not to carry heavy loads or walk long distances because my body lost its balance.
Doctors told me I developed nervous disorders and a neurologist prescribed for me very expensive drugs that I have to take twice a month.
While at Mulago, I lay in bed staring blankly in space with ears blocked due to the effect of the horrible sound. However, I did not know my friends had died until I regained consciousness.
But when I saw people reading newspapers that had screaming headlines about terror attacks in Kampala and the pictures and names of the people who had died at Kyadondo Rugby Club, it downed on me that probably my friends could have died and I could also have been hit by a bomb.
I could hardly hear, thus it was not easy to find out clearly what people around me were saying. But I was very curious. I wanted to know the fate of my friends. I wanted to know whether they were dead or in the same condition I was.
In fact, I bugged my mum and elder sister and repeatedly told them to buy me newspapers so I could check out the names of the people I had seen listed as dead at Kyadondo.
My mother refused to provide me with newspapers because she knew my friends had died and did not want me to know.
I think she wanted to protect me from the trauma of learning about my friends’ death.
Tears rolled down my face each time I recalled the newspaper headlines talking about the blasts at Kyadondo. I worried and waited impatiently to get news about my friends in vain.
Fortunately, one day the doctors advised us to take a walk so we could relax our nerves and regain body balance. As we walked around, I passed by the mortuary and I saw a list of names written with a marker pinned on the wall.
It came to my mind that these must be bomb victims. I, therefore, drew closer and saw Brenda’s name among the dead.
I was shocked. I felt dizzy and terrified at the same time. And when I looked much closer, I saw other friends’ names. They were dead.
I was filled with regret. How had I survived when my friends perished, yet we were seated together?
And the fact that I did not have a chance to bury them saddened me more. Now I don’t like noisy places. Each time something bursts, like a car tyre, Kyadondo memories flood my mind.
Matters were made worse when I returned to work and I was very depressed, because it was the place where we often met for our youth club discussions. I am, however, grateful to Dr. Nakku of Case Clinic in Kampala who gave me free counselling. I can now work at my stationery shop with no stress.
I feel all alone. My friends’ tragic death sometimes haunts me. But I will always pray for their souls to rest in peace.
Kiganda moves on
Kiganda says he was so used to being in company of his peers and it was such a big blow to him to lose them. But he is thankful to God who saved him from the fangs of death.
He says sometimes he feels like being alone. My mother and my siblings are always by my side to make sure I am engaged in a conversation so that I don’t entertain bad thoughts about the tragedy.