The final chapter of a little twin girl
Apr 20, 2008
MARIAM Nakato and Halima Babirye were to celebrate their 10th birthday in August. But the fire that struck Budo Junior on April 14, killing 20 nine to 10-year-old girls including Nakato, denied the twins the joint celebrations which they had enjoyed for the past nine years.
By Herbert Ssempogo
MARIAM Nakato and Halima Babirye were to celebrate their 10th birthday in August. But the fire that struck Budo Junior on April 14, killing 20 nine to 10-year-old girls including Nakato, denied the twins the joint celebrations which they had enjoyed for the past nine years.
The primary four pupils perished when Nassolo dormitory went up in flames at about 9:30pm.
Yesterday, the final chapter of Nakato’s brief stay on earth was closed at Namasumbi in Wakiso district where she was laid to rest amid deep grief.
Wrapped in a white cloth and a flowered bed sheet, her charred little body was lowered into the grave at about 3:00pm.
Owing to the Islamic tradition, Nakato’s mum, Betty Kigozi and Babirye did not escort Nakato on her final journey.
The hysterical Babirye sat with her auntie in a banana plantation near their home while her mother, wearing traditional clothes, wept as she sat next to the house in which the body was prepared for burial. Hundreds of mourners consoled her.
When she was introduced to to the mourners, Babirye could not hold herself together and burst into tears. Present was Prince Kassim Nakibinge and the Entebbe Resident District Commissioner, Aisha Kaggwa.
Recalling the macabre experience, Babirye said she tried in vain to wake up her sister and she said she will not return to the ill-fated school. Sheik Muhammad Mayanja, who led the prayers, believed Nakato’s soul was in heaven.
“Any person who is killed innocently goes straight to heaven. We pray to God that the bereaved family gets courage and strength during this tough time.â€
Meanwhile, 10 suspects, among them the matron of the dormitory, are still detained at the Central Police Station, Kampala.
The Police have also announced a sh5m reward for information about the cause of the fire.
MARIAM Nakato and Halima Babirye were to celebrate their 10th birthday in August. But the fire that struck Budo Junior on April 14, killing 20 nine to 10-year-old girls including Nakato, denied the twins the joint celebrations which they had enjoyed for the past nine years.
The primary four pupils perished when Nassolo dormitory went up in flames at about 9:30pm.
Yesterday, the final chapter of Nakato’s brief stay on earth was closed at Namasumbi in Wakiso district where she was laid to rest amid deep grief.
Wrapped in a white cloth and a flowered bed sheet, her charred little body was lowered into the grave at about 3:00pm.
Owing to the Islamic tradition, Nakato’s mum, Betty Kigozi and Babirye did not escort Nakato on her final journey.
The hysterical Babirye sat with her auntie in a banana plantation near their home while her mother, wearing traditional clothes, wept as she sat next to the house in which the body was prepared for burial. Hundreds of mourners consoled her.
When she was introduced to to the mourners, Babirye could not hold herself together and burst into tears. Present was Prince Kassim Nakibinge and the Entebbe Resident District Commissioner, Aisha Kaggwa.
Recalling the macabre experience, Babirye said she tried in vain to wake up her sister and she said she will not return to the ill-fated school. Sheik Muhammad Mayanja, who led the prayers, believed Nakato’s soul was in heaven.
“Any person who is killed innocently goes straight to heaven. We pray to God that the bereaved family gets courage and strength during this tough time.â€
Meanwhile, 10 suspects, among them the matron of the dormitory, are still detained at the Central Police Station, Kampala.
The Police have also announced a sh5m reward for information about the cause of the fire.