Makerere University student who tragically lost his fingers in 2022 due to a teargas canister explosion during a protest recently celebrated a significant milestone. Richard Ssebuganada lost fingers during a protest in Makerere University while he was in his second year. Richard grateful to people who helped him Richard Ssebuganda overcame the odds and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences from the university. The inspiring achievement was acknowledged during the Makerere 74th graduation ceremony, where Mr. Ssebuganda joined the ranks of 12,913 graduates. Known affectionately as Sebzo among his peers, Ssebuganda took to social media to express his excitement and gratitude. In a post on his X account (formerly Twitter), he attributed his success to his unwavering parents and those who supported his return to academia. “Gallons of tears shielded around my heart with a thick membrane, but regardless, congrats to me. Special thanks to mum and dad: there’s a lot to talk about, however, the journey ahead is huge,” he posted. How did Richard lose his fingers? The incident that altered Ssebuganda’s life occurred on February 5, 2022, during a protest against Makerere University’s decision to shift to online learning. Riot police used tear gas to disperse the protesting students, and a canister landed in Ssebuganda’s room. Although it did not explode at the time, tragedy struck later when Ssebuganda attempted to dispose of the canister, and it detonated in his hand.Who Inspire Hope Undeterred by this life-altering event, Ssebuganda, fueled by his commitment to activism, enrolled in a second Bachelor’s degree program at Uganda Christian University, this time in Law. His aspirations now include becoming a medical lawyer to advocate for better medical policies in the country.
by Linda Shiundu
