It is the dream of every parent that their children excel in school, become well rounded adults and successful professionals. June Mitanda was one of those parents who had high hopes for his daughter Samantha Ntundhu and never in his worst nightmares thought their dreams would not come true.
Samantha Ntundhu was one of the 19 girls tragically burned to death in a fire at Buddo Junior School on Monday night.
Mitanda says the last time he heard from his only child was on Monday when she sent that he should pick her up from school on April 18th. Describing Samantha fondly as very loving, he says she was a very intelligent child who had a clear vision of joining either Kings' College Buddo or Gayaza High School for her secondary school education and then becoming a doctor.
Mitanda says that in recognition of her talents, he made a decision to move her from St. Francis Primary School in Ntinda to Buddo Junior, to help her get the best education. Samantha was immediately placed in P4E, one of the streams with the best and brightest students, and was excelling in class.
//Cue in: iShe's been very bright #i
Cue out: i# could come true.i
Away from school, Samantha was very sociable. Her father says she was an ardent music lover who would quickly take to the dance floor each time they went to a party.
Holding a picture of a beautiful girl full of life, Mitanda recalls that Samantha's dancing prowess won her many accolades and admirers.
//Cue in: iYou know I've been #i
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For a moment Mitanda's face livens up as if Samantha were alive. Then the gloom returns, as it gets increasingly unclear when he may take her body home.
He says his daughter can be identified by a name tag that was sewn on to her nightdress and there is no need for him to await the results of a DNA identification process. Mitanda says he has wept for long, but will not break down until he gets her daughter's body.
Mitanda is in horror about the way his daughter perished. Despite this, he says Samantha will never fade in his memory.
//Cue in: iSeeing her when #i
Cue out: i# never forget Samantha.i//
