They are stealing kidneys in Kampala

By GRACE NAKATO

The poor and the vain are now an endangered species in the Pearl of Africa, especially if you factor in that kidneys make up 75 per cent of the global illicit trade in organs.
Forget the witchdoctor who may kidnap you for body parts. Lifestyle diseases such as high blood pressure and a growing demand for eyes, hearts, lungs and even skin, mean that when the ‘traders’ look at you, all they see are $$ (dollar) signs. Human beings have now become akin to goats that can be bought, sold and stolen at whim.
languishing
It is dangerous to be young, healthy and broke if you live in area code +256 (Uganda, for the uninitiated). Mathias Sekyewa is a Senior Six student who was languishing in brokenness when his campus friend introduced him to a quick fix — sell your kidney and save a life. He was soon introduced to an Indian ‘professor’ attached to a certain medical institute, and a lieutenant colonel whose son’s life was in the balance.
Abdominal
The soldier promised the lad that he would build a house for his parents and also give him $77,000(Sh6.6 million) in cash to boost his lifestyle, plus a lifetime medical cover. All the necessary travel documents were processed and Sekyewa was assured that his parents could be involved once the compatibility tests were done in India.
Upon reaching the hospital in India and settling in, the last thing Sekyewa remembers was sharing breakfast with the kidney recipient. He woke up to abdominal pains, only for the nurse to explain that the organ harvesting had been done.
All Sekyewa got upon returning to Kampala is constant debilitating pain and weakness, about $9,700(Sh842,865) in cash and a threat to end his life should he persist in chasing after the soldier for the promised loot. The matter is now in court.
Meanwhile, do you have extra cash to spend on improving your image? Beware! There are some ‘specialists’ who have been peddling liposuction and stomach stapling services to middle-aged, wealthy, overweight members of society. The most common hunting grounds are upmarket gyms and clubs.
Derrick and his friends were at one of the upmarket sports clubs in town enjoying a sumptuous platter of pork and frothy beverages after a vigorous session in the gym.
A medic came and introduced himself as a plastic surgeon and gave a very convincing pitch on the benefits of elective surgery as a weight loss and body enhancing choice.
Check-up
One of the lads, Omwenga, was convinced and opted for the quick fix. He did not read the medical forms giving consent when going under the knife, neither did he ask any questions — we all trust doctors.
The surgeon not only got paid for the surgery, he also gave himself a souvenir in the name of one of Omwenga’s kidneys, and none would have been the wiser if he did not have to take a company medical check-up, where he was found to have a single kidney.
The next time the doctor invades your abdomen — appendicitis, child birth, liposuction — go for a sonogram before and after the surgery to ensure you have not made an anonymous donation to the doctor’s retirement fund.