Manuela Adubango, a 48-year-old refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), fled to Uganda after the death of her family members. She now lives in Yabwengi Village, Kiryandongo District, with her son.
Manuela has given birth to seven children but tragically lost six of them. A fistula developed during her third pregnancy where, without access to a nearby health facility, she laboured at home for four days. The prolonged labor resulted in both the loss of her child and the onset of the fistula.
Determined to seek treatment, Manuela visited multiple hospitals and underwent four surgeries, all of which failed. She shared how her community labeled her a prostitute and claimed she was cursed because of her condition. Her husband abandoned her, leaving her to raise her only surviving child alone.
Manuela subsequently relocated to Yabwengi Village and now works on farms to earn enough for food and her son’s school fees.
“The whole community knew about my condition. I smelled of urine, I was constantly followed by flies, and I lived an isolated life.”
UVP staff learned of Manuela’s situation after an outreach at Yabwengi Health Centre II, where health workers shared her story. The staff followed up with her at home and invited her to attend the first UVP camp at Kiryandongo Hospital in September 2024. Following a successful surgical repair, she was overjoyed to return home dry.
“I am now dry. I don’t have to worry about leaking urine. I can go back home and live happily within my community.”