A 17-year-old Primary Seven candidate in Lwengo District was forced to abandon her first Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) paper after she suddenly lost her sight while sitting the examination.
Fiona Kisakye, a pupil at Kisaana Bataka Primary School, reportedly became unable to see what was printed on her examination paper, prompting her to leave the examination room in tears. However, she said her sight returned shortly after she stepped outside.
Recounting the incident to journalists, Kisakye said the problem started with a headache before spreading to her eyes, which began aching and producing tears.
“I was not seeing anything printed on that white paper even when I tried to force my eyes. But when I moved outside, I could clearly see everything,” she said.
Her mother, Annet Nakalunga, said the problem first emerged when Kisakye was in Primary Five (P5) and has continued despite several attempts to seek medical treatment.
According to Nakalunga, her daughter’s sight often becomes blurred when she is at school, making it difficult for her to read printed notices or see what teachers write on the blackboard. She said the condition usually improves after medical attention but returns when Kisakye goes back to school.
“I have taken her to both government and private hospitals, and whenever I take her there, her eyes stabilise. But when she goes back to school, the problem returns. It starts with a headache, stomachache, and then she loses her sight,” Nakalunga said.
Teachers at the school said the incident was not the first time Kisakye had experienced sudden vision problems. They recalled a similar episode during the second term, which prompted her parents to seek medical attention. Her condition reportedly improved afterwards, but the problem resurfaced during the PLE.
