Orphaned at three months, triplets fight to stay in school
Apr 24, 2006
IDEALLY, triplets would be the best thing that would happen to any mother. Judging from the way twins are handled — with special attention, special names and parents having special titles like Nalongo and Salongo like the case with Baganda, performance of several rituals — they are that special.
By Irene Nabusoba
IDEALLY, triplets would be the best thing that would happen to any mother. Judging from the way twins are handled — with special attention, special names and parents having special titles like Nalongo and Salongo like the case with Baganda, performance of several rituals — they are that special. What of triplets?
Isaac Opio, Jacob Ochieng and Denis Okello were the first triplets to be born in Lacor Hospital in Gulu, 18 years ago.
Born on 11, May, 1988, the trio were lucky to see the sunrise for it was a time of insecurity set in by the Lord’s Resistance Army rebels.
Their mother, Cecilia Layado says she was not only lucky to carry her high-risk pregnancy to the end given the conditions in IDP camps, but also very lucky to have delivered them in the best hospital in the region under special care of the late Dr Matthew Lukwiya.
However, when they were four-months-old, their father Samuel Oyat passed away. He was one of the victims of the war.
Dr Lucy Okote, who witnessed their delivery, offered guardianship until they were of age, but she also died before they were 10-years-old. “We were in Primary Four,†Opio, the oldest, says.
Lukwiya took over as a caretaker, but unfortunately died of Ebola in 2002. The triplets had to return to their mother in the camp. She was a teacher until the rebels displaced them. Since cultivation was no more because their gardens were the rebels’ ‘lodges’, they had to depend on handouts from relief agencies in the region.
To cope with life in their ‘new homes’, their mother married another man and had a daughter, now aged 11, but her father also passed away.
“We were back to square one, but we never gave up on books. Since we were night commuters, we would stay around town during the day and attend school. When time for school fees came, we would vanish and reappear in the next class,†Ochieng says.
Naughty, one would call them but they clung together until another good samaritan, George William Okello, who was Lukwiya’s friend offered to have them in his school in Kampala until they completed primary level.
Despite the hardships, Ochieng, Opio and Okello scored aggregate 19, 16 and 15 in last year’s PLE from Hill Stone Primary School, Mbuya.
And like luck is always on their side, another good samaritan Rosemary Kisembo showed up. She is the pioneer of St. Rosa College School in Matugga, Wakiso district.
“It’s a mixed day and boarding school and these children are currently attending Senior One. A friend introduced them to me. I’m trying to care for them but it’s proving difficult by the fact that they are three. The school is new, they cannot go back home in holidays because of transport limitations and I’m not financially solid myself,†says Kisembo, a teacher.
Nevertheless, the triplets are still hopeful. Ochieng and Opio, who happen to share a lot in common, want to be doctors.
“Doctors seem to have defined our survival from birth. But death has robbed us of a chance to reward these good souls. I would like to honour them by emulating them,†Ochieng says.
Opio adds, “I promised Dr Lucy I would be a doctor. I want to see it to come pass.â€
However, Okello ‘mummy’s boy’ as the duo refers to him, wants to be a politician. The way he expresses himself using body language, choice of words and firm voice says it all.
“I want to be known internationally for fighting for peace and democracy. Peace should not be a preserve of a few. I have no idol to admire as far as politics and peace are concerned,†Okello says.
It is prayer that keeps them going as they hope to meet their dreams one day. At 18, they feel they have along way to go as far as education is concerned but they have come too far to back off.
“Some day we shall finish school, graduate and get jobs. Life is worth living, particularly if it’s through the might of the pen. We appeal to good samaritans to help pay our fees and see us through school,†Ochieng says looking into space.
IDEALLY, triplets would be the best thing that would happen to any mother. Judging from the way twins are handled — with special attention, special names and parents having special titles like Nalongo and Salongo like the case with Baganda, performance of several rituals — they are that special. What of triplets?
Isaac Opio, Jacob Ochieng and Denis Okello were the first triplets to be born in Lacor Hospital in Gulu, 18 years ago.
Born on 11, May, 1988, the trio were lucky to see the sunrise for it was a time of insecurity set in by the Lord’s Resistance Army rebels.
Their mother, Cecilia Layado says she was not only lucky to carry her high-risk pregnancy to the end given the conditions in IDP camps, but also very lucky to have delivered them in the best hospital in the region under special care of the late Dr Matthew Lukwiya.
However, when they were four-months-old, their father Samuel Oyat passed away. He was one of the victims of the war.
Dr Lucy Okote, who witnessed their delivery, offered guardianship until they were of age, but she also died before they were 10-years-old. “We were in Primary Four,†Opio, the oldest, says.
Lukwiya took over as a caretaker, but unfortunately died of Ebola in 2002. The triplets had to return to their mother in the camp. She was a teacher until the rebels displaced them. Since cultivation was no more because their gardens were the rebels’ ‘lodges’, they had to depend on handouts from relief agencies in the region.
To cope with life in their ‘new homes’, their mother married another man and had a daughter, now aged 11, but her father also passed away.
“We were back to square one, but we never gave up on books. Since we were night commuters, we would stay around town during the day and attend school. When time for school fees came, we would vanish and reappear in the next class,†Ochieng says.
Naughty, one would call them but they clung together until another good samaritan, George William Okello, who was Lukwiya’s friend offered to have them in his school in Kampala until they completed primary level.
Despite the hardships, Ochieng, Opio and Okello scored aggregate 19, 16 and 15 in last year’s PLE from Hill Stone Primary School, Mbuya.
And like luck is always on their side, another good samaritan Rosemary Kisembo showed up. She is the pioneer of St. Rosa College School in Matugga, Wakiso district.
“It’s a mixed day and boarding school and these children are currently attending Senior One. A friend introduced them to me. I’m trying to care for them but it’s proving difficult by the fact that they are three. The school is new, they cannot go back home in holidays because of transport limitations and I’m not financially solid myself,†says Kisembo, a teacher.
Nevertheless, the triplets are still hopeful. Ochieng and Opio, who happen to share a lot in common, want to be doctors.
“Doctors seem to have defined our survival from birth. But death has robbed us of a chance to reward these good souls. I would like to honour them by emulating them,†Ochieng says.
Opio adds, “I promised Dr Lucy I would be a doctor. I want to see it to come pass.â€
However, Okello ‘mummy’s boy’ as the duo refers to him, wants to be a politician. The way he expresses himself using body language, choice of words and firm voice says it all.
“I want to be known internationally for fighting for peace and democracy. Peace should not be a preserve of a few. I have no idol to admire as far as politics and peace are concerned,†Okello says.
It is prayer that keeps them going as they hope to meet their dreams one day. At 18, they feel they have along way to go as far as education is concerned but they have come too far to back off.
“Some day we shall finish school, graduate and get jobs. Life is worth living, particularly if it’s through the might of the pen. We appeal to good samaritans to help pay our fees and see us through school,†Ochieng says looking into space.