Pig Ate His Hands at Two, Now 19-Year-Old Victor Fears His Education Could End at S4

‎KABALE— At two years old, Mwegyesa Victor lost his hands after they were eaten by a pig. Nineteen years later, having defied the odds to pursue his education, he faces another painful possibility: missing out on Advanced Level (A-Level) because his parents cannot afford school fees.

‎Victor, a student at St Mary’s College Rushoroza in Kabale District, recently sat his Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examinations but fears he may not continue with his studies due to his family’s financial constraints.

‎The teenager, who hails from Nyamirama Sub-county in Kinkizi County, Kanungu District, says his dream of attaining higher education could be cut short despite his determination and good academic performance.

‎”I would like to ask all well-wishers to help me continue with my education because I have sat my O-Level UNEB examinations, but I have no hope of joining A-Level because my parents are poor,” Victor said.

‎He appealed to individuals, organisations and other well-wishers to support his education, saying learners with disabilities deserve opportunities to achieve their ambitions and contribute to society.

‎”I also want them to support people like me who could be important in the near future because disability is not inability,” he added.

‎A journey marked by determination

‎Victor’s educational journey has been shaped by determination despite the physical challenges he has faced since childhood.

‎He says his good performance in the Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) prompted his peasant parents to take him to St Mary’s College Rushoroza, one of the prominent schools in the Kigezi sub-region.

‎Victor joined the school in 2023 after being identified in Kanungu District by the head teacher, according to Barigye Godfrey, the Deputy Head Teacher in charge of Academics.

‎Despite having no hands, Victor says he has managed to participate in classroom activities and examinations by using his arms to write.

‎He added that his academic performance has been good since he joined Senior One, demonstrating that his physical condition has not stopped him from pursuing his educational goals.

‎However, as he completes his O-Level studies, the lack of school fees threatens to bring his academic journey to a premature end.

‎Teachers, students rally behind him

‎At St Mary’s College Rushoroza, Victor has earned the affection of fellow students and teachers, who have supported him in his daily life.

‎Barigye said the school community has embraced Victor, with fellow students helping him with tasks such as carrying food and books and washing his clothes.

‎He described Victor as an intelligent student whose abilities could benefit Uganda if he receives an opportunity to continue his education.

‎Barigye said supporting Victor to advance academically would give him a chance to develop his potential and contribute to the country’s population and employment sector in the future.

‎Daniel Musinguzi, a fellow student, said Victor is loved by his colleagues because of his friendly personality, sense of humour and willingness to socialise.

‎Musinguzi described him as a student who enjoys cracking jokes and interacting with others, making him a valued member of the school community.

‎Another student, Kirabo Lucy, expressed confidence in Victor’s future, citing his focus and hard work at school.

‎She believes that with continued education and the right support, he could become an important person in society.

‎School fees threaten his dream

‎For Victor, the immediate challenge is finding the money needed to continue studying after his UCE examinations.

‎His parents, who depend on peasant farming, have struggled to meet the financial demands of his education, leaving him uncertain about whether he will join A-Level.

‎Without assistance, his ambition of advancing academically could be frustrated, despite his determination and the support he has received from the school community.

‎Victor is now appealing to well-wishers, organisations and individuals to help him continue his education.

‎His story highlights the difficulties faced by learners with disabilities from financially disadvantaged families, who often depend on outside support to access educational opportunities.

‎For the 19-year-old, the prospect of missing A-Level is another obstacle in a life marked by challenges. Yet his determination to study remains strong.

‎Having overcome the challenges of growing up without hands, Victor now hopes that financial hardship will not deny him the opportunity to complete his education and build a future in which he can contribute to society.

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