Living with a bomb fragment in her lungs

The night was filled with anticipation and laughter as Jackie Namande and a group of 13 friends watched the World Cup finals at Kyadondo Rugby Club. But when terrorists attacked, a bomb fragment hit her, lodging near her lungs. In our daily series capturing personal stories of victims of the July 11, 2010 terrorist attacks in Kampala, Flavia Lanyero brings you the story of a young woman who cannot stop thanking God for saving her life and that of her friends.

She still counts her luck to date. Unlike other revellers who lay lifeless at Kyadondo Rugby Club, Jackie Namande thanked God that her precious asset-life, was not snatched away. Despite her escape from death, she did not go unscathed. It was a night filled with cheerful expectation by a group of 13 friends as they looked forward to watching the World Cup finals at Kyadondo.

The cheap entrance to the venue-Shs5,000, was the lure for the group. Jackie remembers that massive adverts about performing artistes and fireworks at the venue prior to the match, was another reason they chose Kyadondo Rugby Club. It was all cheer and laughter until terrorists messed everything up. Scores of revellers were killed and hundreds injured as bombs hit them.

Luckily for Jackie and her friends, all of them survived but with injuries. “I think we survived because we were seated at the extreme end. Those who sat at the front and middle seats were the most affected,” says Jackie.

Blood and pus
She remembers hearing a deafening sound that caused confusion and panic among the revellers. She resents anything that emits loud noise. “Those who sat at the front were hit first and the second blast hit those who were in the middle in a span of two minutes,” she says.

Jackie was taken to Nsambya Hospital where doctors examined her and told her condition was not too bad and discharged her after a week. But a few days at home and Jackie started feeling pain around her chest. A visit to Mulago Hospital confirmed her fears. Blood and pus had formed in her lungs. “I used to feel so much pain around my chest. I was not breathing properly,” says Jackie. She spent a month in Mulago Hospital as she anticipated an operation to remove a bomb fragment lodged near her lungs but in vain. The doctors said they could not risk removing the fragment, and preferred she lived with it since it would not harm her.

Despite doctors’ assurances that the fragment will gradually come out, the knowledge of a foreign object sitting near one of her most precious organs, cannot put her mind to rest. “Sometimes I forget about it. I was counselled by doctors and they said nothing will happen to me, but of course, I am always conscious that it is there,” says Jackie.

The now expectant mother says she thanks her God for keeping her and her family alive especially when her sister and brother were at the same venue at the time of the blasts. She has taken prayers so seriously although this year she did not go for the Namugongo Martyr’s Day celebration- an event she never missed.

Fear of bombs
“I am a staunch Catholic but I did not go for the Martyrs Day prayers at Namugongo because there were rumours that the al Shabaab were around. It will take me some time before I go to gatherings,” says Jackie.

Although she occasionally goes out, Jackie is never settled and keeps thinking that a bomb could explode soon near her. “I am so sensitive about everything around me and I always remind security guards wherever I go to check people properly before allowing them in,” she says.
Jackie was pursuing a course in nursing but the events of the July 11, 2010 made her suspend the course for a while. The jolly and expectant mother wants the government to take security seriously so that the incident that nearly ruined her life does not occur again.

Were you affected by the July 11, 2010 bomb blasts? Did you lose a loved one? Are you a survivor? Share your experiences with us by writing to [email protected]