At only 15 years of age, Agnes Tumungo fell pregnant. She did not attend antenatal services because of the distance to the nearest hospital and she equally lacked money for transport and clothes to go to the hospital. She spent three days in labour being attended to by a Traditional Birth Attendant (TBA) in her local community. After the TBA failed to deliver the baby, Agnes was initially taken to Masindi General Hospital where she spent two further days going without treatment. She was subsequently transferred to Hoima Regional Referral Hospital where she underwent surgery. Unfortunately, she had already lost the baby and developed both vesicovaginal and rectovaginal fistulas. With no treatment for either fistula made available to her at this point in time, she had no choice but to return home.
Upon returning home, Agnes shared how she was sent away from her clan “because having fistula was attributed to my cheating and being with multiple men during my pregnancy”. She became isolated from and discriminated against by her family. Her sister initially provided her with refuge, however, following undue pressure from clan members, her sister was also forced to send her away.
“I walked for over 70 kms to go and work on sugar cane plantations in Kabango in Masindi district for survival.” Survival was difficult – Agnes described how she would often lose job opportunities when it was discovered that she suffered from fistula: “I had a consistent bad smell, and no one wanted to be around me.”
Agnes suffered the physical and psychological trauma of being raped by a gang of drunkards as she was chased away from another job site. She was taken to hospital but received little treatment whilst there. Hospital staff eventually traced her family and brought her back to them, where out of pity, she was given an isolated piece of land close to the swamp where she was able to construct a house. She has lived here in isolation ever since, receiving only the odd bit of support from her sister Janet.
Following a facility outreach at Apodorwa Health Centre III where health workers shared Agnes’ case, UVP team members Robert and Judith went to visit Agnes at home. Agnes was subsequently invited to come to Kiryandongo General Hospital for the repair camp in September 2024 where she underwent surgery for her rectovaginal fistula, and returned in November 2024 to undergo VVF repair surgery.
Both of Agnes’ surgeries were successful and she is leaving Kiryandongo Hospital with hope for her future restored: “Once I return home, I want to look for any available opportunity to work and can now consider the opportunity to start a family. I wish to be a good wife and live happily with my family.”