MBARARA, September 25, 2023 – Justine Abeera Nasasira, 47, a resident of Katete central in Mbarara City now has to use clutches to walk after falling into an uncovered drainage manhole at Victor Bwana Road in March 2022.
Abeera, formally a trader in the city, said she slid and fell into a manhole constructed by Multiplex Company where a sharp stone seriously injured her leg to the extent of being amputated.
“It was heavily raining and you could not determine whether there was a hole or not, so when I tried to cross the running water, I fell into an uncovered manhole and that was the end of my right leg,” she said.
“According to the doctor’s report I immediately got infected with tetanus through the badly injured leg and I was advised by doctors to have it amputated,” Abeera said.
She said the medical bills have accumulated yet Multiplex Company only gave her Shs 1 million.
“I spent four months bedridden and the landlord threatened to evict my seven children who had been chased for school fees as the leg started rotting. The road supervisors visited me in the hospital and handed me only Shs 1mln to cover the hospital bills yet in the theatre alone, I was charged Shs 1.5mln,” she said.
She said she had lodged a case at the Chief Magistrate’s Court Mbarara but was requested by Multiplex Company to settle the matter out of court where it was agreed she would be compensated Shs 30mln but this has not been fulfilled.
“The case was in court already but Multiplex convinced me and we signed a consent agreement to compensate me with Shs 30mln but they have not complied since August 13, 2023,” Abeera said.
When asked, the city town clerk, Assy Abirebe Tumwesigire promised to follow up on the matter and ensure that Nasasira is compensated by the construction for the loss of her leg.
“It is very unfortunate that she [Nasasira] lost her leg. As city council, we are following it up and we want to make sure that the injured person [Nasasira] is compensated,” Abirebe said.
He blamed the unformatted incident on contractors who don’t complete road works in time.
“The challenge we have is for contractors who don’t finish road works in time. It is a great concern and we appeal to the contractor [Multiples] to complete work in time so that people’s lives are not put in danger anymore,” Abirebe noted.
Amina Nakku, a Senior Labour Officer Mbarara City said the compensation money for Asasira is small given that Nasasira lost her leg and she is finding it hard to vend for her family.
“Shs 30mln compensation for loss of Nasasira’s leg is not worthy but I found when they had made an agreement, so I could not advise any further,” she said, adding, “What I can advise is that let Multiplex fulfill its part of the agreement.”
When contacted, the MD Multiplex Company, Moses Ndege Bbosa said he does not handle such matters. “You can get someone at the site in Mbarara whom you can talk to, otherwise the matter is in court and we don’t discuss matters of court on phone,” he said.
https://thecooperator.news/lack-of-funds-frustrates-road-works-in-mbarara-city/
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