Family seeks lasting tribute for heroine of Budo inferno

Mr Paul Ssewanyana Ssalongo and Ms Rebecca Namusisi, holding the photos of the late Yvonne Namaganda, at their home, Kampungu Village, Kanoni, Gomba District. PHOTO | DAVID WALUGEMBE

In a modest home in Kampungu Village, Gomba District, a collection of medals, plaques and certificates occupies a special place in the sitting room.

They are reminders of a daughter whose courage earned national recognition, but whose absence continues to leave an unfillable void in the lives of her parents.

Eighteen years after 10-year-old Yvonne Namaganda lost her life while rescuing fellow pupils from a dormitory fire at Budo Junior School, her family is calling for a permanent memorial to preserve her legacy and ensure future generations remember her sacrifice.

On the night of April 14, 2008, fire engulfed Nassolo Dormitory at Budo Junior School in Wakiso District, killing 20 girls and shocking the nation.

Amid the panic, Namaganda, then a Primary Four pupil and dormitory captain, repeatedly rushed back into the burning building to help younger pupils escape. She never made it out.

According to accounts from survivors and her family, Namaganda was returning to rescue more girls trapped inside when part of the burning structure collapsed, killing her and several others.

For her bravery, the government later recognised her as a national heroine and awarded her the Rwenzori Star Medal during Heroes Day celebrations in 2016.

She also received several posthumous honours from cultural institutions and organisations in Uganda and beyond.

But to her parents, medals alone are not enough. “We are grateful that our daughter was recognised as a heroine, but we would like future generations to know who she was and what she stood for,” says her father, Mr Paul Ssewanyana Ssalongo.

“A monument, memorial site or even a public institution named after her would keep her story alive and inspire young people to serve others selflessly,” he adds.

When the Daily Monitor visited the family home last week, memories of Namaganda flowed easily, despite the passage of nearly two decades.

Her mother, Ms Rebecca Namusisi, remembers her as an exceptionally disciplined and responsible child who stood out among her siblings.

“She was a leader from an early age; she excelled in class, participated in sports, sang in church and was always concerned about the welfare of others,” Ms Namusisi recalls.

Namaganda began her education at Good Daddy Nursery School in Bukalagi, Gomba District, before joining Aidah and Topher Kindergarten, where she studied up to Primary Three.

She later transferred