Visually Impaired Ugandan Author Launches Second Book: A Story of Resilience and Inspiration

Emmanuel Pande, a Senior Six vacist from Iganga Secondary School, has amazed many educationists by authoring and publishing two books despite being visually impaired. Born in 2004, Pande lost his sight at just one and a half years old due to an overdose of quinine drugs. At the age of five, he lost his mother. From that moment, his grandfather, Mr. Charles Kenneth Mabonga of Nabumali Town Council, collected him from Kampala and brought him to live with him in Mbale District. He enrolled at Madera School for the Blind in Soroti City, where he completed his primary education, before joining Iganga Secondary School. He finished his Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education in 2025. Pande studied Literature from Senior One to Senior Six. He enjoyed composition writing, which later developed into a passion for creating his own literary work. In April last year, he published his first book, titled Hundred Pieces of Gold. Inspired by his grandfather, who never abandoned him unlike many guardians who neglect children with special needs, he wrote his second book, Attitude: A Master Key to Success. It was launched on Thursday at the Mbale District Council Hall in the presence of education stakeholders and district officials, led by Chief Administrative Officer Ms. Angella Akurut. Others in attendance included District Education Officer Sam Paddy Khaukha, school inspectors, headteachers of secondary and primary schools, and PTA and SMC chairmen from government-aided primary and secondary schools in Mbale District. The book received a warm reception from the audience. Each copy sold for 20,000 shillings, and a total of one million shillings was raised from the sales.