The parish priest for St. Paul Catholic parish in Mukono town is stranded with a dumb 17-year-old girl who claims to be a daughter to a couple residing in Entebbe at a place she cannot exactly identify.
Christibelle Namazzi who hears but cannot speak, communicates through writing in perfect English and Swahili. She says her parents are Samuel Muhanjo and Mwenda Katana, with two sisters called Bianca Namakula (15) and one Aisha Kalid (7).
The girl who has been under the care of Fr. Paul Ssebitoogo since December 6, last year, says she remembers that the day she left home, the unidentified housemaid invited her into a waiting car outside the house, put her belongings into the car and she was given some money by the driver who immediately drove off to a place she does not know.
On the way she continues, the driver gave her a cake and that after eating it, she lost consciousness and that when she regained it, she was in a hospital.
Fr. Ssebitoogo says police found her lying unconscious on the road in a place which was not identified and took her to Mukono General Hospital.
He notes that after treating her and regained her conscious, the health workers at the hospital realized she could not talk hence pleading with him to assist by hosting her at the church.
“For over a month, we have made announcements but nobody responds; I once drove her through Entebbe and she failed to locate her home, and when we visited Entebbe Police Station, the personnel said they have never received a complaint relating to any person lost in her circumstances,” he said.
Asked what normally happens when they receive such cases, Fr. Ssebitoogo said that almost weekly, they receive people with related problems and in the case of children, they refer them to gazetted children’s homes.
He added, “But these cases are rare; we normally receive adults seeking assistance for transport money back home after failing to get in touch with people who promised to get them jobs in Kampala, those who may have lost the way home and others”.
Explaining why she failed to locate her home, Christibelle says she grew up indoors with connection to the outside, with special teachers who found her at home. She has neither playmates nor friends with whom to exchange information outside her home.
“From my childhood, I had never left her home because I am not taken to church and also when it comes for education, I get lessons from teachers who find me at home,” she noted.
She said that though she got very good company and care at St. Paul, she wants to go back home and reunite with the parents.
“I thing over time, I will be getting time, visit St. Paul and greet Fr. Ssebitoogo who has been so good to me,” he said.
The priest gave mobile numbers 0772949950 and 0701286494 for anyone who may know her relatives or information leading to her reunion with the family.