A Night of Horror in Kayunga
A violent drug addict attack in Kayunga District has left prominent livestock trader Ephraim Kasujja permanently disabled and struggling to rebuild his life. The incident, which occurred on September 9, shocked Kangulumira Town after 22-year-old Joel Kabaale hacked several residents with a machete, leaving four dead and Kasujja badly injured.
Lying on a bed in his sitting room, the 55-year-old groans in pain, his plastered left hand evidence of the assault. Before the fateful evening, Kasujja was a healthy, hardworking father of ten, providing for his family through livestock trading. Today, he faces a life of dependence and uncertainty.
The Attack and Its Aftermath
According to Kasujja, the evening began like any other. When his wife discovered there was no sugar at home, he stepped out to buy some from a nearby shop. It was then that Kabaale confronted him, shouting incoherently before launching a brutal attack. The machete strikes left Kasujja bleeding and disoriented. His left hand was severed, and his head bore deep wounds.
Residents rushed him and other victims to Kangulumira Health Centre IV, but two of them succumbed to their injuries. Kasujja survived after emergency treatment and was later transferred to Jinja Regional Referral Hospital. There, doctors managed his blood loss, stitched his wounds, and confirmed that his hand could not be saved. After four days in hospital, he was discharged, physically alive but emotionally scarred.
Now back home, Kasujja struggles with basic tasks. Once an independent man, he requires assistance with bathing and eating. “I thank God I am still alive. All four other victims died, but my dreams have been shattered. At 55, I never thought I would face life with one hand,” he says.
Drugs, Violence, and Lost Futures
Investigations revealed that Kabaale, the attacker, was a known drug user. According to neighbors, he had started smoking marijuana in Primary Seven and eventually dropped out of school after assaulting a teacher. He spent most of his time in makeshift shelters with other drug users in Kituti Village. Police confirmed that several drug-related arrests had recently been made in Kangulumira Town, but the menace remained widespread.
Ssezibwa Regional Police spokesperson Hellen Butoto reported that Kabaale killed two children aged six and four before being lynched by a mob the following morning. His violent outburst, police said, was linked to prolonged substance abuse. The tragedy left the town grieving and reignited calls for stronger action against drug addiction.
Community leaders emphasized that the drug addict attack was a wake-up call. Kangulumira Town mayor Robert Kiggundu urged young people to avoid substance abuse, warning that it destroys lives, families, and entire communities. His message echoed the pain of families who lost loved ones in the attack.
Living With Pain and Uncertainty
For Kasujja, the battle is now both physical and emotional. Haunted by nightmares of the incident, he says he still sees his attacker in his dreams. Though doctors suggest he may regain limited use of his injured arm in six months, his livelihood as a livestock trader has already been disrupted. His savings have been drained by medical bills, and he now depends on the goodwill of neighbors and well-wishers to support his family.
“I was the sole breadwinner. Now I can’t work, and my children’s education is uncertain,” he says, worry etched across his face. Despite his gratitude for surviving, his reality remains harsh. The scars of the drug addict attack will remain long after the headlines fade, serving as a painful reminder of the human cost of substance abuse.
