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| Apollo
Kigondo |
| We’ve just
had a terrible shock with news of the murder of Apollo Kigondo
in Uganda. Apollo, who was around 30, started work with us 8
years ago as clinical orthopaedic officer. He had heard of our
work and came to us on completion of his training. It was a mark
of his commitment that he worked four days a week for 16 months
unpaid, before we were able to start paying him a salary. He
quickly became a valued member of the team, and his skills were
instrumental in changing the lives of many children. |
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| Others
recognised his skills too, and a surgeon offered to pay his fees
at medical school. We paid his living expenses and he enrolled
at university with the aim of training as a surgeon. At his own
request he remained contracted to Acheru and came back to work
there during holidays. We saw Apollo as an important part of
Acheru’s work in the future, and he continued to serve on
the management committee. |
| He came back
from university to attend an Acheru management committee meeting
on Wednesday and it was after that, on his way home, that he was
murdered, having his throat cut. We know no more than this at
present; it could have been an attempted robbery, or a targeted
personal attack. Whatever the reasons, we’ve lost him. Our
thoughts and prayers are very much with his parents, and also
with the Acheru staff who thought so highly of him. |
| We’re
going to miss him badly; what has happened has serious
implications for the future of Acheru, the immediate impact
being a heavier burden on the remaining staff, and the loss of
his skills when we face so much need. We need to absorb this
shocking news before thinking about how we need to react. |
| Please pray for
Apollo’s parents, and for his friends and colleagues at
Acheru. |
| Brian Dorman |
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