Namasagali College Student Dies After Snake Bite in Dormitory

A Senior Three student at Namasagali College has died following a snake bite that occurred inside the dormitory last week.

Nasser Ssajjabi, the student who passed away, was buried on Saturday in Bulembo Village, Kidera sub-county, Buyende District. Reports indicate that he was bitten by the snake, mistaking the bite for that of a mosquito. He was declared dead upon reaching Kamuli General Hospital.

The incident took place around 2 a.m. on Wednesday, with the student alerting his roommates afterward. Efforts to save his life included rushing him to Namasagali Health Centre III, where there was no antivenom available. Ssajjabi was then transferred to Kamuli General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

Godfrey Apuuli Nyakaana, chairperson of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) at Namasagali College, noted that the poor condition of the Namasagali-Kamuli Road and the lack of functional vehicles at the college contributed to the delay in getting medical help. The school’s three vehicles were reportedly out of service, and the challenging terrain further complicated the emergency response, as the hospital is located about 23 kilometers away from the school.

Christine Kaguna Owagage, district councillor for Namasagali sub-county, expressed that various factors were to blame for the tragedy. She raised concerns over the lack of essential supplies at Namasagali Health Centre III, which once operated at a higher capacity but now lacks crucial medicines like antivenom despite its proximity to areas prone to snake encounters near the Victoria Nile.

Frank Sendi, the newly appointed headmaster of Namasagali College, expressed sorrow over the incident as he settles into his new role, describing the deceased student as promising and academically above average.