Burnt to the bone: Uganda’s acid attack survivors seek justice

Ugandan university student Linette Kirungi was on her way to class when she heard footsteps behind her. The next thing she felt was liquid on her face — then burning agony.

She had just turned down a marriage proposal from her ex-boyfriend. He responded by throwing acid.

“I screamed and fell down,” the 27-year-old told AFP.

“The pain was too much. The skin was peeling off.”

Acid is cheap and easy to find. Some just use acid for car batteries. It melts the flesh, sometimes to the bone.

That attack was in 2012.

Today, Kirungi works to support survivors of acid attacks in Uganda — and close a legal loophole that allows attackers to easily evade justice.

Close friends Reenah Ntoreinwe, pictured left, and Linette Kirungi, right, met each other as acid attack survivors (AFP Photo/SUMY SADURNI)

In Uganda, in 2018, 42 cases were reported to the End Acid Violence campaign group, listing motives including jealousy and relationship arguments.

More go unreported, activists say, who are pushing the government to declare acid attacks a “serious crime” and police to take action.

Uganda’s Justice Minister Ephraim Kamuntu said he wanted to stamp out the attacks.

“We are working… to see that a new law is in place to stop this crime,” Kamuntu said.

But Kirungi, whose ex-boyfriend was never arrested, said that police lose interest if victims don’t follow the case — but they are in hospital struggling with the pain.

“You are in the intensive care unit, and at times you find you even don’t know what is happening,” Kirungi said. “Once you fail to appear they will close the case.”

Survivors of the attacks can spend months in hospital, often lose their jobs, and then end up homeless.

“You fear people seeing you,” said Jennifer Mutesi, who also was attacked with acid.

Survivors like Jennifer Mutesi can spend months in hospital, and even lose their jobs and end up homeless (AFP Photo/SUMY SADURNI)

“If they see you, they are scared of you. And you cry, because of the pain, and your appearance.”

It is not just a Ugandan problem. Such attacks happen worldwide.

ActionAid, an international organisation working for social justice, say acid attacks mainly target women — and the method is used because of the importance placed on a woman’s physical appearance.

For more news your way, download The Citizen’s app for iOS and Android.