Mahuaji ya albino kwa Mkoa wa Kagera

PREAMBLE/ INTRODUCTION:

The People with skin disabilities (ALBINOS) have come under great threat and attack, which has left some 245 albinos dead, and several others handicapped through amputation. Limbs of ALBINOS are madly sought by unknown people allegedly in pursuit of wealth-making, at the advice of witch doctors.

This project is intended to raise the awareness among the audience (4 million people) in the Lake Victoria region about the need to protect and respect the human rights of the ALBINOS. The project seeks through radio programs, to create. The outcome is that ALBINOS are not killed nor threatened.

The project seeks to carry out an operational research, collect/ gather information about facts, hold policy/ security meetings with concerned people and produce/ broadcast 24 radio programs hilghiling the plight faced by ALBINOS and also advocating for peace, respect and protection of the ALBINOS.

The killings of the ALBINOS have become widespread and an issue of high concern in the country. Following the unearthing of the practice by a BBC reporter VICK NTETEMA, the practice has now become widely known. There have been several incidents happening in different parts of the country. Kagera region is one such area with high incidences occurring. There has been several other incidents thereafter which rises serious concern in the country.

Background of albino killings in kagera region:

1. Karagwe district:

Starting with the month of July 2008, a grave in a village called Nyakasimbi was opened and bones of a person a village called Nyakasimbi was opened and bones of a person a village called Nyakasimbi was opened and bones of a person a village called Nyakasimbi was opened and bones of a person a village called Nyakasimbi was opened and bones of a dead person (who was an albino) were exhumed and taken away. In the same village, which has an albino, thre has been several threats with unknown people invading the particular home and threatening to kill the albino child.

Karagwe district has several albinos; These are living in constant fear. The District Commissioner has tried to conduct security meetings and promise security to these, but this is not enough. It is like these ALBINOS have limited protection- because the security needed rests on the community where they reside, to provide all necessary of protection.

Further the district authorities have gone a further step by secluding all albino children of school going age to a boarding primary school. This is a very commendable effort indeed. But the complexity of the matter rests again on the community. These children come from a community- this has to provide them with the due respect and protection.
2. Muleba District: The recent wave has spread to Muleba district. Here several police reports have confirmed cases of albino children killed. One recent sad episode was when Albino-Mongers invaded a home in a village in Muleba, broke into the house and amputated a young girl taking her two arms and legs leaving her dead. The Regional police commander has confirmed this.
3. Ngara district: The recent case of a woman amputated in Ngara is a very sad story that has covered the news headlines, and the frontline story by ITV. This is one of the few such sad stories.

Regards,
Sekiku JosephDirectorFADECO Community Radio (FRC 100.8 FM)P. O. Box 223Karagwe- Kagera RegionTANZANIA
Tel: +255 28 2227033Fax: +255 28 2227024Cell: +255 754 605682
Skype ID= jsekikuYahoo ID = sekiku2002