By Patience Ampaire
Gumisiriza Moses Abdallah and Babirye Dorothy both residents of Buyaga cell, Mpumude Sub-county, Lyantonde district lost their son Davis Nyesiga (10 years) due to deadly electricity wires that were allegedly left hanging by unidentified UMEME staff.
According to these deeply hurt parents, the sad incident occurred on 8th October 2023 after a staff of UMEME left loose wires on the pole in the compound of Kabura Farmers Cooperative, a form of negligence the deceased’s family can’t tolerate thus tasking UMEME to compensate them with Ugx2bn.
Our attempts to get a comment from the administrators of Kabura Cooperative SAACO [where the incident happened] were futile as the chairman’s phone numbers went unanswered.
Through their lawyers of UMERU &Â Company Advocates, the parents in a letter dated 10/10/2023, believe that if these wires were collected by UMEME staff, such a horrific incident would not have happened.
Hon. Enos Asiimwe Kinywamacunda, Kabula County legislator says that he would have put this matter to the attention of the Minister of Energy and Minerals but unfortunately she is out of the country, he however promised to follow up the case until justice is served.
Namara Generous Kabarongo a person on the frontline for the family of Davis to get justice says that due to the negligence of UMEME electricians, a lot of lives have been lost. She mentioned a youthful citizen in Rwamabara Village, in Buyaga Parish, Mpumudde S/county, only identified as Ibrah who also succumbed to UMEME’s negligence.
”I was surprised at the burial of Davis UMEME didn’t even talk about compensation. Later through its representative, they said that they would compensate the family with Ugx1.5million, what a joke, you kill someone’s child and say you will give them just a million? Anyway, we rejected this through our lawyers of UMERU & Company Advocates and all that the family needs is justice,” said a furious Namara.
Namara also said that the family has been receiving threats from people claiming to be from UMEME telling them to withdraw the case, something the family have rejected until justice for their child is served through compensation of not just Ugx1.5m but Ugx2billion.
For those hearing this big-hearted lady for the first time, Namara Generous Kabarongo is an education advocate, a leader, a human rights defendant and an environmentalist.
She has been helping many people in Lyantonde district especially the needy, women, widows, and youth to get jobs abroad so that they can change their standards of living and those of their parents.
She is also famous for making mega contributions to schools and churches, especially for renovating their structures for the good of the wanainchis. She has so far made significant contributions to Kiyinda Church of Uganda Primary School, Buyaga Primary School where Davis [rip] was studying from, St John’s Kaliiro Secondary School and Buyaga Health Center among others.
Office Of RDC Speaks Out
Jeremy Namanya the Deputy RDC Lyantonde district says that the office of the RDC is responsible for protecting the life of every citizen within the district and on the issue of Davis he sent his heartfelt condolences to the family and added that although there is no compensation that can replace their son, there is a need for justice.
Jeremy added that justice should be served and other measures be put in place to prevent the occurrences from happening again. He said investigations are ongoing and promised to work closely with UMEME and the family to understand the circumstances surrounding the incident.
”Meanwhile, I want to caution everyone to be vigilant, especially in the rainy season. Regularly inspect your connections very carefully, monitor the wires, and switches and for any signs of damage please contact the qualified electricians immediately for repair,” Namanya cautioned.
Asiimwe Edward Ssanana the Councilor, Buyaga Parish says that his residents have since been engulfed by fear after the above incident.
”My people are now getting sleepless nights, especially when it rains because winds are always heavy, and they blow the wires from one place to another. UMEME doesn’t care, even after receiving multiple calls from leaders about electricity emergencies,” said Ssanana.
Among the residents fuming against UMEME include a one Ayesigye Mathias of Mpumude Sub-county, who said UMEME has done nothing to help them in curbing such incidents, hence calling upon the government to take serious actions against such ‘reckless’ agencies.
UMEME Condoles With The Family
The UMEME spokesperson Peter Kaujju contacted by Swift Daily News Saturday evening noted that the matter is under investigation but sent heartfelt condolences to the family for such a huge loss of their beloved child.
”First and foremost I want to apologize to hear that we lost that dear life, it is always sad on our side to hear such bad news, but I want to inform the family that in case we finish investigations and find that this indeed happened and it was a mistake from our side, we shall find a way of handling it,” said Mr Kaujju.
