What began as a promising university romance turned into a nightmare that would change Hanifa Nakiryowa’s life forever. Yet, despite enduring one of the most horrific forms of violence, she has emerged as a powerful voice for acid attack survivors in Uganda.
Nakiryowa was an ambitious student at Makerere University when she met her economics lecturer, Dr. Faisal Buyinza. According to her account, the relationship evolved into a marriage marked by control and severe domestic abuse.
Determined to reclaim her freedom, Nakiryowa eventually left the marriage. However, her decision would come at a devastating cost.
In 2011, she was allegedly lured to her former husband’s home, where she was attacked with industrial-grade acid. The assault left her with life-altering injuries. Her nose was destroyed, she lost sight in her right eye, and her body was permanently scarred.
The attack not only altered her appearance but also forced her into a difficult journey of recovery, resilience and rebuilding her life.
Despite the trauma, Nakiryowa refused to be defined by her suffering. Instead, she transformed her personal tragedy into a mission to support others facing similar ordeals.
She went on to establish the Centre for Rehabilitation of Survivors of Acid Violence (CERESAV), an organisation dedicated to supporting acid attack survivors, advocating for justice and raising awareness about the devastating consequences of acid violence.
Through the organisation, Nakiryowa has become a symbol of resilience, helping survivors access rehabilitation services while campaigning for stronger protections against gender-based violence.
Her story has also drawn attention to concerns about accountability and justice. Despite the severity of the attack, the criminal case against her alleged attacker was reportedly dropped, leaving many questions unanswered and fueling calls for reforms in the handling of gender-based violence cases.
Today, Nakiryowa’s scars remain a visible reminder of a painful chapter in her life. But they also stand as a testament to her courage and determination to ensure that other survivors are not silenced by fear.
For many Ugandans, her journey is a powerful example of how resilience can triumph over cruelty, transforming personal pain into a force for social change.
