Msichana huyu Aisha Nabukeera alichomwa na mama yake wa kambo mnamo mwaka 2006.
Habari hii iligonga sana vichwa vya habari vya Afrika Mashariki.
Mfanyabiashara mwenye mafaniko Frank Gashumba alimchukua na Kumfanya Mtoto wake na kumsomesha.
Sasa hivi amefaulu mtihani wake wa kidato cha sita na anategemea kujiunga na Elimu ya Chuo kikuu na ndoto zake ni kusomea sheria.
When Aisha Nabukeera was burned by her stepmother on February 2, 2006, her story became a matter of public interest.
Scarred beyond recognition, she met Frank Gashumba, a businessman, in 2007, later to become her guardian. After undergoing three surgeries, she joined City Parents Primary School, at 13 and was able to score Aggregate 14 in 2008’s Primary Leaving Exams.
She later acquired a sponsorship from Mr Lawrence Mukiibi of the St Lawrence Schools for her secondary and university education in St Lawrence institutions.
In 2009, she started senior one at Horizon College of St Lawrence and it is from here that she successfully completed her Senior Four, scoring Aggregate 31.
“In 2013, I went to London College of St Lawrence for my Advanced Level, studying History, Geography, Economics, Sub-Mathematics and General Paper,” she narrates from Mr Gashumba’s office in Kampala.
“I have managed to score 15 points and I am really grateful and so happy about this.
“I must confess that it has not been an easy journey because things were a little hard although fun at the same time. I used to sleep late and wake up very early. At one point, the teachers were about to give up on our stream because we were the naughtiest.”
She did not, however give up.
“Uncle Gashumba is tough, especially when it comes to performance and this pushed me to work hard because I did not want to disappoint him.”
Nabukeera holds her guardian in high esteem.
“I remember when he received criticisms because of me that he was only after money. His reputation was tested but he never gave up on me. He treats me like his own child and he is a parent to me,” she shares.
She is also grateful to Mr Mukiibi for giving her a chance to study through the scholarships he has given her and to the journalists who shared her story. If not for you, my story would not be known. It is because of you that I have been able to receive support and also be able to recover from the pain.
“To my friends and teachers for the unconditional support we granted to one another, I cannot say enough to express my gratitude. Thank you all.”
On how she scored 15 points, she attributes the success to her discussion mates, we used to hold plenty of discussions all the time and even missed supper on several occasions. However, we also fasted as a stream and I think God heard our prayers.” Nabukeera smiles.
Her dream is to join university and become a lawyer. Her story is a success story of victory over child abuse. She says: “I hope to achieve a lot in future so that I can be the voice to the needy especially children who have undergone a situation like my own but with no voice to fight for them.
Mr Gashumba, who has been her legal guardian says: “We appreciate Aisha for realising that she is the one who has to write her own destiny and not anybody else. She forgot what happened to her and was able to concentrate on her books to date.
I also thank Professor Mukiibi for the certificate he gave her because it is where she has successfully completed her education from. And finally, I pray that God helps us identify people who fight against children so that they can be justly punished.”
